A1VT  /"^  T  r  YT  T 
HBBBB 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


A    NOVEL. 


BY  THE  AUTHOR  OF  "THE  ODD  TRUMP,"  "HARWOOD,"   "THE  LACY 
DIAMONDS,"  ETC. 


forfe: 
E.  J.  HALE  &  SOtf,  PTJBLISHEES, 

MURRAY  STREET. 
1876. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1876,  by 

E.  J.  -HALE  &  SON, 
in  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress  at  "Washington. 


s 


C 


PREFACE. 


In  criticising  an  American  Novel,  a  late  writer  remarked 
that  it  was  impossible  to  construct  a  Eomance  that  should  depict 
even  a  few  distinguishing  traits  in  American  character.  The  di 
versities  separating  sections  of  this  great  country  are,  perhaps, 
as  strongly  marked  as  those  that  distinguish  different  nationali 
ties  in  Europe.  And  in  the  social  lives  and  habits  of  the  many 
classes,  constantly  increasing  in  America,  and  constantly  diverg 
ing  more  and  more  distinctly  from  any  established  standard,  the 
romance  writer  may  find  types  enough  to  fill  a  series  of  Novels, 
while  he  cannot  exhaust  the  supply  in  an  ordinary  lifetime. 

The  present  volume  does  not  even  attempt  the  analysis 
of  character.  In  so  far  as  ethical  or  philosophical  questions  are 
touched  at  all,  they  are  only  touched  as  incidental  parts  of  the 
narrative.  All  temptation  to  descriptive  writing  has  been  stead 
fastly  resisted,  and  the  only  effort  has  been  to  draw,  in  outline, 
a  few  characters  for  the  reader's  entertainment. 

YORK,  May,  1876. 


892601 


CONTENTS. 


PA8K. 

CHAPTER  I.     The  Storm 7 

II.  The  Travelers 12 

III.  Mrs.  Norman 16 

IV.  The  Rtithvens 21 

V.  Miss  Abby  Keith 25 

VI.  Rupert's  Commission 30 

VII.  Two  Soliloquies 34 

VIII.  Helen 38 

IX.  Dutchy 43 

X.  Vendetta 48 

XL     Mr.  Skillet 52 

XII.  Moving 57 

XIII.  Tige 62 

XIV.  A  Letter 66 

XV.  At  Work 71 

XVI.  Nina 76 

XVII.  The  Meeting  of  the  Worthies 81 

XVIII.  Darcy's  First  Visit ,. 86 

XIX.  The  Foremost  Man  of  the  Age 91 

XX.  TheGoldRoom 96 

XXI.  Title  Deeds 100 

XXII.  The  Wanderer's  Return 105 

XXIII.  Watched 110 

XXIV.  A  New  Departure 115 

XXV.  Mr.  Donis 120 

XXVI.  Baffled 125 

XXVII.  NellGaston 130 

XVIII.     Cross  Purposes 135 

XXIX.    An  Angry  Household 139 


Vi  CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

CHAPTER  XXX.    Found 144 

XXXI.  Mediums 149 

XXXII.  The  Sealed  Envelope 154 

XXXIII.  Mr.  Skfflet'g  Sympathy 159 

XXXIV.  Miss  Abby's  Visit 164 

XXXV.  Nina's  Dilemma 169 

XXXVI.  The  Outlet.    174 

XXXVII.  Followed  Again 179 

XXXVIII.  A  Declaration 184 

XXXIX.  The  Little  Game 188 

XL.     The  Old  Church 192 

*              XLI.     Mr.  Skillet's  Plan 197 

XLII.     The  Red  Spots  in  the  Snow 202 

XLIII.     The  Friends' Parting 206 

XLIV.     A  New  Relation 211 

XLV.    Helen's  Story 216 

XLVL     The  Dark  Chamber 222 

XLVII.     The  Partition 229 

XLVIIL     Blake  and  Bloke 234 

XLIX.     And  Last 241 


FLESH   AND   SPIRIT.* 


CHAPTEE  I. 

THE  STORM. 

DAECY  GASTON  stood  at  the  window,  watching  the  whirling 
snow.  The  great  flakes  slanting  from  east  to  west,  Were 
interlaced  with  millions  of  erratic  crystals,  darting  in  all  direc 
tions,  and  formed  a  white  network  that  hid  the  dark  pines  skirt 
ing  the  garden.  The  windows  on  tlie  eastern  side  of  the  room 
were  blocked  up  by  miniature  drifts,  and  all  the  paths  around  the 
house  were  obliterated. 

A  horseman,  powdered  from  head  to  foot,  passed  the  window, 
and  dismounted  at  the  porch.  Before  he  had  done  stamping, 
and  shaking  the  snow  from  his  hat  and  garments,  Darcy  opened 
the  door  to  admit  him.  The  horse  had  walked  off  soberly,  in 
search  of  shelter  and  provender. 

The  new  comer  divested  himself  of  overcoat  and  leggings, 
entered  the  warm  room,  and  stood  with  his  back  to  the  roaring 
wood  fire.  A  large,  comely  man,  thirty-five,  with  kind  eyes  and 
smiling  mouth.  His  name  was  Henry  Gaston,  but  at  college  he 
had  been  nicknamed  "  Tiger,"  because  he  was  so  invariably  sweet 
tempered  and  gentle.  No  man  had  ever  known  him  to  manifest 
temper,  and  no  man  ever  dreamed  of  offering  him  an  affront. 
The  county  would  have  risen,  as  one  man,  to  resent  an  injury 
done  to  "  Tige"  Gaston.  He  was  a  lawyer,  without  practice, 
except  in  the  way  of  gratuitous  advice,  which  he  gave  freely  to 
all  applicants ;  a  farmer,  with  five  hundred  acres,  which  he  valued 
chiefly  on  account  of  the  quail  he  shot  in  the  broad  fields  in  the 
autumn ;  a  country  gentleman,  with  a  wife  who  believed  in  him 
without  limit,  and  no  kindred  excepting  the  boy  who  watched 
him  so  anxiously,  as  he  stood  near  the  blazing  hearth. 

"  Well,  brother?"  said  Darcy,  at  last. 

"  All  up,  Darcy  !"  replied  Tige,  "  and  I'm  glad  of  it !    Suppose 


8  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

we  had  won  that  suit,  arid  turned  out  poor  old  Tom  Phillips  ! 
Why  the  man  has  a  dozen  children." 

"You  will  not  appeal,  brother?" 

"Certainly  not!  What's  the  use?  We  have  plenty.  Since 
I  left  Coviugton,  I  have  thought  it  over.  I  am  going  into  the 
law,  Darcy,  and  you  must  take  this  confounded  farm.  Hist ! 
Here  comes  Nell !" 

To  them  enters  a  bright  little  lady.  Tige  stoops  down  and 
kisses  her,  as  a  matter  of  course. 

"  Boots  wet,  Tige  V  she  said ;  "  No  ?  I  tell  you  they  are ! 
Here,  Nanny ;  bring  Mr.  Gaston's  slippers.  What  about  the  ver 
dict  r 

u  Gone  against  us,  Nell,  darling.  It  is  all  right.  Darcy  was 
more  interested  than  1 5  but  he  would  have  given  up  the  case,  if 
he  had  heard  the  testimony." 

"  Well,  I'm  glad  it  is  settled  at  last,"  said  Mrs.  Gaston.  "  I 
thought  it  would  end  in  this  way,  and  I  have  made  a  plan  for 
Darcy."  , 

"What  is  it,  sister?" 

"  Splendid !  Tige  shall  open  a  law  office  in  Lexington,  and 
you  shall  be  a  student  a  year  or  two,  and  then  a  partner." 

"  You  and  brother  have  been  holding  a  caucus,"  answered 
Darcy,  laughing ;  "  but  I  think  I  shall  spoil  your  scheme.  I  have 
expected  defeat  also,  and  have  gradually  perfected  a  plan.  I  am 
going " 

"  Where  ?"  said  Tige  and  his  wife,  in  a  breath. 

"  Into  commerce,"  said  the  youth,  waving  his  hand,  as  if  he 
would  take  in  the  visible  horizon.  "  Commerce  !  That  for  your 
law,"  and  he  snapped  his  fingers  contemptuously. 

"  I  shot  two  ducks  yesterday,"  interrupted  Tige,  "  and  the 
odour  of  dinner  followed  Nell  when  she  entered.  I  am  famishing. 
After  dinner  we  will  renew  the  discussion.  I'll  wash  my  hands, 
change  my  coat,  and  be  down  before  you  are  ready." 

They  were  all  seated  before  the  blazing  logs  an  hour  later,  all 
thinking  of  the  same  thing,  and  each  reluctant  to  break  the 
silence.  Tige  was  wondering  if  he  had  used  due  diligence  in 
"working  up  the  case,"  and  was  conscious  of  laxity  of  mind  cer 
tainly,  and  perhaps  of  indifference  as  to  the  result  of  the  trial.  It 
was  an  old  suit,  and  during  Darcy's  minority  there  had  been  a 
vague  expectation  that  the  verdict  would  give  the  youth  a  com 
petency,  as  well  as  add  to  his  brother's  moderate  estate.  In  their 


THE  STORM.  9 

later  conversations,  Darcy  had  detected  the  doubt  in  his  brother's 
mind  concerning  the  justice  of  their  claim,  and  had  caught  his 
feeling  of  indifference  and  non -expectation.  And  his  thoughts 
were  now  busy  with  the  purpose  he  had  formed  to  enter  the 
world,  and  contend  for  fortune  in  the  marts  of  commerce.  Nell 
was  furtively  watching  the  boy's  countenance,  looking  for  disap 
pointment,  and  finding  an  expression  of  calm  confidence  instead. 
As  the  silence  must  be  broken  sooner  or  later,  Mrs.  Gastou,  of 
course,  broke  it. 

"  Darcy ,''  she  said,  drawing  her  chair  nearer  to  him,  "  I  have 
thought  of  all  the  merchants  in  Lexington,  and  if  you  are  really 
going  to  make  your  fortune  in  that  way,  it  must  be  in  Millikeu's." 
'  "Millikeu's  ?"  said  Darcy, 

" Yes,"  she  answered,  decidedly ;  "he  is  a  cross-grained  old 
wretch,  I  know,  but  he  is  rich,  and  he  has  made  his  money  since 
I  was  a  girl.  You  can  ride  in — I'll  give  you  luncheon  to  take  with 
you — and  you  can  ride  back  to  dinner." 

"  Milliken's  ?  Lexington  I"  replied  Darcy.  "  What  do  you  think 
about  it,  brother  f 

"  Whatever  Nell  thinks,"  said  Tige ;  "  she  is  always  right, 
you  know.  Milliken  was  poor  as  a  rat  when  he  came." 

"  I  don't  think  Milliken  will  do,  brother.  I  thought  of  going 
further." 

They  were  all  silent  again.  Somehow,  they  all  thought  simul 
taneously  of  a  little  mound  under  the  snow,  where  Tige  and  his 
wife  had  left  their  only  child,  a  baby  boy,  ten  years  ago.  He  died 
while  his  age  counted  by  days,  and  the  scar  made  by  his  departure 
had  not  been  very  deep.  It  was  disappointment  rather  than  sor 
row  that  troubled  them  when  they  remembered  him. 

"  We  have  nobody  but  you,  Darcy,"  said  Mrs.  Gaston,  plaint 
ively. 

"  And  you  will  not  lose  me,  sister  dear,"  answered  he,  taking 
her  hand ;  "  I  can  and  will  write  to  you — as  often  as  you  say. 
Only  a  day  or  two  between  us " 

"  A  day  or  two !"  said  Tige ;  "  are  you  going  to  open  shop  in 
London  or  Paris  f 

"Do  you  remember  that  smart  gentleman  we  met  last  week, 
brother  ?  I  mean  at  Judge  Hammond's." 

"  You  mean  the  Yankee,  who  talked  of  nothing  all  evening, 
except " 

"  N'Yauk  !''  answered  Dare}*,  laughing.  "  Well,  sir,  he  won  my 
heart.  N'Yauk  is  the  field  for  iny  genius." 


10  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

Here  was  a  bombshell !  Mr.  Gaston,  whose  knowledge  of  geog 
raphy  was  not  trustworthy,  could  not  remember  whether  New 
York  was  a  thousand  or  six  thousand  miles  from  Kentucky.  He 
knew  it  was  a  vast  wilderness,  infested  by  ravenous  beasts,  and 
paved  with  dollars.  He  had  an  indefinite  hatred  of  the  locality, 
mingled  with  a  dim  apprehension  of  the  fact  that  New  York  was 
certainly  the  most  promising  field  for  commercial  enterprise  on 
the  continent. 

Mrs.  Gaston  had  a  swift  apprehension  of  numberless  snares  and 
pitfalls,  constructed  especially  to  entrap  young  gentlemen  from 
Kentucky,  all  which  were  covered  over  with  such  skill  as  to  defy 
scrutiny.  Darcy  was  so  good  and  gentle  and  unsuspecting  !  To 
think  of  this  exemplary  youth  falling  into  babits  of  dissipation, 
losing  his  acute  sense  of  honor,  having  his  conscience  seared  with 
the  hot  irons  that  abounded  in  that  Sodom,  whence  came  those 
lovely  silks  which  Mrs.  Judge  Hammond  wore  on  great  occasions. 

"  Darcy,"  said  Tige,  "  you  are  old  enough  to  know  your  own 
mind,  and  I  suppose  you  have  weighed  all  the  chances.  It  seems 
to  me  that  you  will  have  great  difficulties  to  encounter  from  the 
first.  You  know  nobody  in  New  York " 

"  Excepting  Mr.  Foster,  brother,"  said  Darcy. 

"  Mr.  Foster  f ' 

"Yes.  The  gentleman  at  Judge  Hammond's.  I  had  a  little 
talk  with  him.  He  was  kind  enough  to  say  he  would  be  glad  to 
see  me,  should  I  visit  his  city." 

"  Do  you  know  the  nature  of  his  business  ?"  said  Tige. 

"  Not  accurately.  Something  about  stocks.  He  says  anybody 
in  Wall  street  could  direct  me  to  him." 

"  And  you  were  laying  your  plans  a  week  ago,"  said  Mr.  Gas- 
ton  with  a  touch  of  reproach  in  his  tone. 

"  Not  I !"  answered  Darcy ;  "  it  is  true  that  I  was  attracted  by 
Mr.  Foster's  stories  of  rapid  money  making.  All  my  plans  have 
been  laid  to-day.  You  know  Judge  Hammond  gave  me  a  hun 
dred  dollars — the  only  money  I  ever  earned — for  preparing  his 
boy  for  college.  I  thought  I  should  like  to  commence  on  that 
capital,  and  New  York  is  my  objective  point." 

"  Why  don't  you  say  something,  Nell  ?"  said  Mr.  Gaston,  after 
another  pause.  "  What  do  you  think  about  it  ?" 

"  I  think  Darcy  has  made  up  his  mind,"  answered  Mrs.  Gas- 
ton ;  "it  is  dreadful!  But  if  I  could  only  know  just  what  the 
poor  boy  was  thinking  and  doing  all  the  time,  I  might  consent 


THE  STORM.  11 

to  let  him  try.  When  he  gets  fairly  afloat  in  that  whirlpool  he  will 
forget  us." 

"  Sister  !"  said  Darcy,  "  you  two  are  the  only  friends  I  have  in 
the  wide  world.  None  will  ever  love  me  as  you  two  love  me,  and 
I  will  never  love  any  mortal  as  I  love  you.  When  I  forget  you  I 
will  have  no  memory  of  anything  else.  When  I  conceal  any 
thought  or  purpose  from  you  two,  I  will  be  so  utterly  lost  to  all 
considerations  of  gratitude,  of  honor,  of  manhood,  that  you  will 
be  glad  to  forget  me.  Can  you  not  trust  me  ?  I  will  promise  to 
put  aside  enough  money  to  pay  my  way  back  to  you,  and  when 
I  have  no  other  money  left  I  will  return.  I  will  write  to  you 
every  night,  and  I  will  look  every  day  for  letters  from  you.  If  I 
fail » 

"Well?" 

"  If  I  fail — a  hundred  dollars  will  only  last  a  few  weeks.  I  will 
soon  be  able  to  decide  as  to  my  chances.  I  will  not  take  one  cent 
from  you,  brother.  I  have  resolved  to  carve  my  way  upon  my 
own  resources ;  and  if  I  cannot  win  success  with  this  beginning, 
I  should  fail  with  ten  times  as  much.  But  go  I  must !  Don't  you 
see  that  I  am  obliged  to  go  ?  Would  you  have  me,  with  such 
abilities  as  you  say  I  possess — with  perfect  health,  with  a  liberal 
education,  and  with  Gaston  blood  in  my  veins — would  you  have 
me  live  like  a  drone  among  your  books,  or  vegetate  among  your 
sheep  on  the  farm  ?  I  tell  you,  I  fairly  pant  to  encounter  the  dis 
couragements,  the  disappointments,  the  l  hard  knocks'  that  Mr. 
Foster  warned  me  would  be  in  my  path  !  and  I  mean  to  triumph 
over  all  obstacles,  or " 

"  Or  what !» 

"  Or  come  back  and  vegetate  among  the  other  sheep  !" 

"I  think  he  will  have  to  go,  Nell,"  said  Tige.  "As  soon  as 
spring  opens,  Darcy,  Nell  and  I  will  take  you  to  New  York." 

"  You  mean,  you  and  sister  will  pay  me  a  visit  ?" 

"  When  do  you  think  of  going  ?"  said  Tige,  doubtfully. 

"  To-night !  The  train  that  leaves  Lexington  at  eleven  will  take 
me." 


12  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

CHAPTER  II. 
THE  TRAVELERS. 

rj^HE  snow  storm  which  began  in  Kentucky  "worked  its  way 
-1-  eastwardly.  After  crossing  the  Ohio,  the  train  that  carried 
Darcy  Gaston  gradually  fell  behind  time.  On  the  second  night 
it  came  to  a  full  stop,  half  way  between  stations,  and  the  conduc 
tor  announced  to  the  two  hundred  querulous  passengers,  that 
further  progress  was  impossible.  "  The  snow  put  out  the  engine 
fire."  Another  train  would  be  due  about  daylight,  and  mean 
time  there  was  nothing  to  be  done,  but  keep  up  the  fires  in  the 
cars  and  wait.  Darcy  listened  to  the  comments  of  the  passengers 
with  eager  curiosity. 

"  Misa'ble  management ! "  said  a  gruff  gentleman  a  few  seats 
off.  "  This  cussed  corporation  is  a  fraud !  If  they  had  put  two 
ingines  on  to  the  train  at  Larkville,  we'd  a'  ben  in  N'Yauk  to 
morrow  noon.  I'm  bound  to  be  in  N'Yauk  to-morrow !" 

Nobody  answered.  There  were  sixty-four  passengers  in  this 
car,  and  sixty-two  of  them  thought  the  gruff  gentleman  had 
no  right  to  monopolize  the  injury.  Confound  him  !  Did  he  sup 
pose  anybody  cared  whether  he  ever  reached  New  York  or  not  ? 
Darcy  alone  gave  him  a  grain  of  sympathy,  and  wondered  how 
much  he  was  bound  to  be  in  New  York,  and  if  the  obligation  were 
strong  enough  to  overcome  two  feet  of  snow  on  the  level,  and  ten 
feet  in  the  drifts.  After  a  short  pause,  he  resumed  his  mono 
logue. 

"  Narrer  gauge  road  too !  If  we  had  took  the  other  route  we'd 
a'  ben  a  good  deal  nearer  home,  and  ben  more  comf  able.  Good 
sleepin'  coaches  too !" 

"  Must  be  long  in  Erie ! "  said  a  voice  near  the  door :  "  long 
in  Erie,  and  bullin'  the  stock  !" 

There  was  a  titter  first,  and  then  a  prolonged  guffaw,  in  which 
the  gruff  gentleman  joined.  This  had  the  effect  to  give  a  more 
cheerful  tone  to  the  conversation. 

"  Su'thiu's  got  to  be  done ! "  said  the  gruff  gentleman,  rising ; 
we  can't  set  here  five  or  six  hours.  I  move  that  we  send  back 
to  Scrabbletown,  and  try  to  git  up  another  ingine.  If  we  had  two, 
we  could  push  ahead.  Let's  look  for  the  conductor."  He  walked 
down  the  aisle  as  he  spoke,  and  catching  Darcy's  eye,  nodded 
to  him. 


THE  TRAVELERS.  13 

"  Come,  young  gentleman,  you  and  me  will  be  a  committee  of 
two.  We  can't  set  here,  like  knots  on  a  stump  !  Let's  find  the 
conductor." 

Darcy  rose  at  bis  invitation,  and  passing  into  the  next  car,  they 
found  the  conductor,  who  was  endeavoring  to  reassure  an  old 
lady,  by  promising  relief  at  daylight. 

"  The  express  will  bring  two  locomotives,"  he  said)  "  and  if  we 
can  get  through  this  cut,  the  drifts  will  not  be  so  heavy 
beyond." 

"  We've  come  to  see  you  on  that  business,  Mr.  Conductor,"  said 
the  gruff  gentleman  ;  "  we're  a  committee  from  the  next  car." 

"  Well  sir,"  replied  the  official,  "  what  do  you  propose  f 

"  We  think  you  might  send  back  to  Srabbletown,  and  git  an 
ingine  from  there." 

"  I  have  to  send  a  brakesman  back  to  give  warning,"  said  the 
conductor  j  "  but  I  don't  know— 

"  I'll  go  with  him  1"  said  a  passenger,  rising — "  I  want  to  stretch 
my  legs  anyhow." 

This  car  was  furnished  with  reclining  seats.  A  young  girl  was 
in  the  chair  next  the  window,  apparently  asleep.  He  looked  round 
at  her  a  moment,  and  then  taking  a  ticket  from  his  pocket,  he 
slipped  it  into  a  satchel  that  lay  on  her  lap. 

"  In  case  of  accidents,"  he  muttered,  rebuttoning  his  overcoat — 
all  ready,  conductor !" 

"  Can  I  do  anything?"  said  Darcy,  touching  his  arm,  as  he  fol 
lowed  the  conductor  j  "  shall  I  go  with  you  f 

"  Thanks  !  no  use.  The  walking  will  be  rough.  You  can  do  no 
good  by  going."  He  paused,  and  regarded  Darcy  intently  by  the 
dim  light  of  the  lamps.  "  Would  you  uiiiid — have  you  any  com 
pany  f ' 

"  None ;  I  am  alone." 

"Well,  suppose  you  take  my  seat?  When  she  wakes  you 
might  tell  her  where  I  have  gone.  Would  you  mind  f 

"  I  will  do  it  with  pleasure." 

"  If  anything  should  happen — Pshaw  !  What  foolery !  The 
truth  is,  my  whisky  flask  is  empty — and  I  should  get  the  hor 
rors  before  morning  without  a  nip.  Just  tell  her  where  I  have 
gone — that's  all.  Good  night !"  and  he  passed  out. 

Darcy  quietly  took  the  chair  he  had  vacated,  and  looked 
curiously  at  the  sleeping  girl.  Her  hat  was  in  the  rack  above, 
and  a  woollen  hood  was  drawn  over  her  head,  concealing  most  of 


14  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

her  face.  One  straggling  curl  of  golden  hair  had  escaped  the 
hood  and  lay  over  her  shoulder.  Her  head  was  resting  upon  her 
muff,  a  little  white  hand  holding  it  in  its  place.  She  was  sleep 
ing  profoundly. 

Was  she  a  child  or  a  woman  ?  The  one  hand  visible  was  so 
small,  that  he  concluded  she  must  be  a  school  girl.  Tolerably 
well  grown  too.  The  other  hand  was  gloved,  holding  the  satchel. 
How  fortunate  that  she  was  asleep  !  Perhaps  she  would  not 
waken  until  her  protector  returned.  By  the  bye,  he  had  not  said 
what  relation  he  sustained  to  her.  Father,  of  course.  Too  old 
for  her  brother.  If  anything  should  happen  to  awaken  her, 
what  the  mischief  should  he  say  ?  Eeally  this  was  a  nice 
mess  for  a  fellow  to  be  in !  Suppose  the  man  did  not  come  back 
at  all ! 

Meanwhile  the  girl's  protector  was  plodding  through  the  deep 
snow,  accompanied  by  the  brakesman,  who  carried  a  red  lantern 
that  threw  lurid  streaks  upon  the  white  snow,  looking  like  blood 
stains.  The  station  they  were  seeking  was  some  miles  off,  and 
part  of  the  walk  was  exceedingly  dangerous.  The  railway  wound 
round  a  spur  of  the  mountain  range,  and  one  curve  was  cut  out  of 
the  face  of  the  rock  which  rose  fully  a  hundred  feet,  almost  per 
pendicularly  from  the  margin  of  the  river  that  washed  its  base. 
In  summer  the  trains  went  slowly  over  this  part  of  the  road,  giving 
travelers  an  opportunity  to  take  in  the  enchanting  view  of  valley, 
river,  and  distant  hills.  Now  everything  was  hidden  by  the  whirl 
ing  suowflakes.  Fortunately,  the  wind  had  blown  the  snow  from 
the  track  at  this  point,  and  they  passed  it  safely.  Scrabble  town 
was  reached  at  last,  and  the  solitary  hotel  opened  its  hospitable 
door  to  them  after  a  brief  delay.  There  was  a  stove  in  the  bar 
room,  and  the  passenger  hovered  over  it  while  the  landlord  filled 
his  flask  and  concocted  a  fiery  compound  for  his  present  use.  The 
brakesman  steadfastly  declined  to  partake  of  a  similar  draught, 
saying,  he  was  "  On  dooty,  and  it  was  agin  orders."  If  he  had  told 
the  whole  truth  he  would  have  added,  he  was  a  Son  of  Temperance. 

Their  journey  was  fruitless.  The  engine  they  expected  to  get 
had  been  sent  back  ten  miles  to  meet  the  express  train,  and  aid  in 
pushing  through  the  drifts  further  eastward.  There  was  a  tele 
graph  station  here,  and,  after  sending  warning  to  the  next  station 
of  the  whereabouts  of  the  embargoed  train,  the  brakesman  an 
nounced  his  intention  to  retrace  his  steps. 

One  more  hot  todd3*  for  the  passenger,  and  then  they  began  the 
return  tramp. 


THE  TRAVELERS.  15 

When  they  reached  the  narrow  ledge  over  the  river,  the  brakes 
man,  who  was  ahead,  was  startled  by  a  sudden  cry  from  his  com 
panion.  He  turned  in  time  to  see  him  disappear  over  the  brink  of 
the  abyss !  Another  cry,  far  down  the  face  of  the  rock,  and  then 
silence,  except  for  the  murmur  of  the  river  and  the  pulsations  of 
his  own  heart. 

He  peered  anxiously  over  the  fatal  edge  of  the  precipice,  but 
could  see  nothing  beyond  a  few  feet,  where  the  unfortunate  pas 
senger  had  plowed  his  way  to  destruction.  He  had  slipped  on  the 
rail,  blinded  by  the  snow,  and  probably  the  worse  -for  his  double 
dose  of  toddy,  had  staggered  to  his  feet  on  the  wrong  side  and 
shot  over  the  edge,  almost  within  reach  of  the  brakesman's  arm. 

No  possibility  of  giving  aid.  Nothing  to  be  done,  but  get  back 
to  his  train  and  report  the  disaster.  Only  one  minute  ago  he  had 
cautioned  him  to  follow  closely  and  keep  near  the  face  of  the  rock, 
towering  up  like  a  great  wall  on  the  left  hand. 

Darcy  was  dreaming  of  college  days,  drifting  away  from  him 
into  the  Past,  when  he  was  roused  by  the  conductor.  He  fumbled 
in  his  pocket  for  his  ticket,  but  the  man  beckoned  him  away.  As 
he  left  his  seat  he  glanced  at  his  companion  sleeper,  and  met  her 
calm,  grey  eyes.  In  the  uncertain  light,  he  half  fancied  he  saw  a 
wistful  expression  in  them  that  he  remembered  afterwards. 

At  the  end  of  the  car  the  brakesman  stood,  his  red  lantern  still 
in  his  hand.  Two  or  three  passengers  with  appalled  faces  were 
listening  to  his  story. 

"  No  chance  for  him,  eh  F  said  one,  as  Darcy  drew  near. 

"  Not  a  grain  !"  replied  the  brakesman.  "  He  went  over  just  at 
the  curve  at  High  Bend.  He  must  have  been  killed  a  dozen  times 
before  he  got  to  the  river." 

"  Of  whom  are  you  speaking  ?"  said  Darcy,  the  terrible  truth 
beginning  to  dawn  upon  him  ;  "  not  the  gentleman  who  went  with 
you  V ' 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  conductor ;  "  I  thought  you  would  tell  the 
lady.  He  sort  o'  left  her  in  your  care,  didn't  he  ?" 

Darcy  recoiled.  He  could  not  face  those  grey  eyes  with  so  hor 
rible  a  story, 

"  He  said,"  continued  the  conductor,  "just  as  he  was  stepping 
down  from  this  platform,  that  Mr.  Gaston  would  explain  to  the 
lady." 

"  Mr.  Gaston  !"  said  Darcy,  aghast. 

"  Yes ;  I  heard  him  say  that,"  put  in  the  brakesman. 


16  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

Darcy  tried  to  recall  the  brief  colloquy  between  the  lost  man 
and  himself.  Certainly  he  had  not  told  his  name.  And  how  could 
the  conductor  learn  it  ? 

"  Tell  me  exactly  what  has  occurred,"  he  said  at  last. 

The  man  told  the  story  of  the  walk  to  Scrabbletown,  of  the  delay 
at  the  hotel,  of  the  despatch  to  the  next  station,  and  of  the  return 
walk.  In  describing  the  fatal  accident,  his  story  was  concise  and 
direct.  His  eyes  were  upon  his  companion  all  the  time,  excepting 
the  moment  when  he  fell.  He  heard  him  cry  out  the  second  time 
after  he  disappeared  over  the  verge. 

"  And  then  I  knowed  he  was  a  goner !"  he  concluded. 

Darcy  walked  back  to  the  vacated  seat.  The  girl  was  sitting 
upright,  and  wide  awake.  He  endeavored  to  arrange  in  his  mind 
the  approaches  to  the  catastrophe ;  but  he  was  stunned  and  bewil 
dered. 

"Something  has  happened,  sir!"  she  said,  suddenly.  "What 
is  it !" 

"  I  have  a  terrible  story  to  tell  you,"  he  answered,  "  and  I  do 
not  know  how  to  begin.  May  I  venture  to  tell  you  the  exact 
truth  r 

"  Do  not  hesitate,"  she  replied,  steadily ;  "  I  shall  not  faint  or 
cry  out.  I  am  accustomed  to  terrible  stories.  What  is  it  ?" 


CHAPTER    III. 
MRS.  NORMAN. 

ON  Fifth  avenue,  New  York.  Brown  stone  mansion,  of  course. 
The  town  residence  of  Mrs.  Norman,  widow  ;  rich,  old,  bed 
ridden.  She  had  been  ailing  all  summer,  at  Saratoga  and  New 
port,  and,  since  her  return  to  the  city,  had  not  been  out  of  her 
luxurious  chamber.  The  medical  attendant  had  informed  her 
nearest  relations,  two  grand-daughters,  that  the  case  was  "  seri 
ous,"  and  suggested  the  propriety  of  calling  in  other  physicians, 
to  divide  the  responsibility.  So  others  were  invited  to  a  consult 
ation,  and  pronounced  the  treatment  already  employed  precisely 
that  indicated  by  the  symptoms.  Nothing  to  be  done  but  sustain 
Nature. 
Nature?  however,  had  nearly  reached  her  limit.  That  is  to  say, 


MRS.  NORMAN.  17 

the  time  had  arrived  when  Nature  would  perform  an  evolution, 
in  accordance  with  her  own  inflexible  laws,  and  disintegrate  the 
particles  of  matter  that  were  cognizable  by  the  sensuous  per 
ceptions,  and  eliminate  something  that  gave  the  atoms  cohesion, 
and  which  could  not  be  measured  by  the  faculties  that  investigate 
the  phenomena  of  matter.  Mrs.  Norman  was  taking  her  last  look, 
with  mortal  eyes,  at  the  sunlight.  She  was  a  good  woman ;  her 
long  life  had  been  adorned  by  many  deeds  of  kindness  and  charity ; 
and  she  faced  the  messenger,  whose  dusky  wings  overshadowed 
her  couch,  with  calm  confidence. 

Her  grand-daughters  stood  at  her  bedside,  vieing  each  with  the 
other  in  watchful  attention  to  the  few  wants  of  the  invalid.  The 
elder,  Mrs.  Bragdon,  was  a  cheerful  young  matron,  who  had  two 
new  links  in  husband  and  baby  attaching  her  to  the  things  of 
ear£h,  and  who  therefore  looked  with  more  composure  upon  the 
approaching  separation  from  her  life-long  friend.  Her  sister, 
Nina  Norman,  had  never  left  her  grandmother,  even  for  a  day, 
and  the  prospect  of  her  grandmother's  death,  which  she  knew 
was  near  and  inevitable,  filled  her  with  horror  and  dismay.  To 
her,  perhaps  more  than  to  any  one  else  in  the  world,  the  stealthy 
footfalls  of  the  grim  king  sounded  like  the  tramp  of  a  cruel  mur 
derer,  whose  assault  upon  her  friend  and  guardian  was  a  menace 
addressed  to  herself;  and  she  was  conscious  of  a  vague  longing 
that  her  own  life  might  terminate  when  the  placid  face  of  her 
grandmother  should  settle  into  cold  rigidity. 

"Children!"  said  the  invalid,  "I  shall  sleep  presently.  I  do 
not  suffer  now,  in  mind  or  body.  Nothing  but  weariness.  You 
must  remember  that — hereafter " 

"  Do  not  talk,  Grandmother,"  said  Nina,  "if  it  tires  you." 

"  It  does  not,  child.  I  have  only  a  word  to  say.  Euthven — if 
your  Grandfather  had  not  quarrelled  with  Euthven " 

"  Who  is  Euthven,  Grandmother  f '  said  Nina. 

"  Ah  !  you  do  not  know  ;  and  I  cannot  tell  you  now." 

She  closed  her  eyes,  falling  into  a  quiet-  sleep.  Mrs.  Bragdon, 
leaving  her  sister  at  the  bedside,  stole  softly  out.  She  had  heard 
her  husband's  voice  in  the  passage.  Would  return  in  a  minute. 
Would  make  John  exchange  his  boots  for  slippers,  and  bring  him. 
The  minute  was  multiplied  by  ten,  and  Mrs.  Norman  awoke  before 
she  returned.  Nina  was  kneeling  at  her  side. 

"  A  drop  of  wine,  Nina,"  she  said. 

"  What  did  you  wish  to  say  about  Euthven,  Grandmother  P  said 
Nina,  giving  her  the  wine.  2 


18  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

li  Euthven  was  your  Grandfather's  nephew.  They  quarrelled, 
and  the  boy  disappeared.  It  was  forty  years  ago.  I  have  never 
heard  of  him  but  once  since.  If  they  had  not  quarrelled  Mr. 

Norman  would  have  left  him .  I  cannot  tell  the  story.  There 

is' a  packet  in  my  writing  desk.  Take  it  and  read  the  will.  He 
made  another  will  later,  leaving  me  everything.  There  is  the 
desk.  Get  the  packet  now." 

Nina  opened  the  desk,  and  after  a  short  search  found  a  bundle 
of  legal  looking  documents. 

"  Here  is  one,  Grandmother,  marked  l  Will.'" 

"  That  is  it.  Keplace  the  others.  If  I  had  lived,  I  thought  I 

would  find  Euthveu  and  give  him Ah !  kiss  me,  Nina,  my 

darling.  I  am  going  to  sleep  again.  You  and  Mary  can  settle " 

and  she  dozed  again,  leaving  the  sentence  unfinished. 

The  house  was  on  the  corner,  and  the  last  beams  of  the  setting 
sun  came  in  at  the  west  window.  The  faint  ray,  subdued  by  the 
lace  curtain,  flickered  upon  the  face  of  the  sleeper,  and  she  awoke 
for  the  last  time. 

"  Eupert  is  in  the  hall,  Nina,"  she  said,  in  low  tones,  clear  and 
distinct;  "call  him.  Stop !"  she  added,  as  Nina  moved  to  the 
door.  "  It  is  too  late.  You  had  better  send  him — Kentucky.  He 
will  know.  Poor  child !  Do  not  mourn  !  Obey  the  will ! — the 
will !" 

And,  as  Nina  knelt  by  her,  a  solemn  quiet  spread  over  the 
pallid  face.  The  sun  was  gone,  and  as  the  shadows  gathered  in 
the  darkening  chamber,  Nina  hid  her  face  in  her  hands  to  shut 
out  the  sight. 

They  found  her  there  a  minute  later,  insensible,  and  carried  her 
to  her  room,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bragdon,  the  Doctor,  and  Eupert.  It 
was  sudden,  the  Doctor  said,  but  he  had  expected  that  termina 
tion  and  had  warned  them.  It  was  a  comfort  to  know  that  it  was 
a  painless  death.  Miss  Norman  was  worn  out  by  her  prolonged 
vigils.  Let  her  sleep  if  she  would.  It  was  only  a  swoon ;  she 
would  be  quite  well  in  the  morning.  All  that  human  skill  and 
care  could  do  had  been  done ;  but  the  case  was  utterly  hopeless 
from  the  first.  He  would  look  in  to-morrow  and  see  Miss  Norman. 

Eupert  had  remained  in  the  death  chamber,  while  the  others 
carried  Nina  to  her  room.  When  they  returned,  he  was  at  the 
window.  He  did  not  mention  the  fact  of  his  having  explored  the 
writing  desk  during  their  absence,  or  the  further  fact  of  his  failure 
to  find  what  he  sought  there. 


MRS.  NORMAN.  19 

"  Can  I  serve  you  in  any  way,  Mary  ?"  he  said. 

"  No,  I  think  not ;  unless  you  will  ask  Doctor  Blair  to  calL 
We  ought  to  tell  him,  John." 

"  Oh,  certainly !"  replied  Mr.  Bragdon.  "  And  Mr.  Grey  had 
better  see  him.  It  would  be  more  decorous." 

Mr.  Grey  walked  soberly  down  stairs,  and  into  the  street,  his 
handsome  countenance  grave  and  sad,  as  became  the  occasion. 
Stopping  at  the  next  corner,  where  the  Eeverend  Dr.  Blair 
resided,  he  sent  in  his  card,  and  was  speedily  ushered  into  the 
study.  Here  he  delivered  his  message  in  mournful  accents, 
dwelling  a  moment  upon  the  many  virtues  of  the  dear  deceased, 
and  left  the  venerable  clergyman  in  a  glow  of  sympathy,  that  was 
heightened  by  the  stern  composure  wherewith  Mr.  Grey  repressed 
his  tears.  ' 

Proceeding  down  the  avenue,  he  reached  the  hotel,  and  met  an 
acquaintance  at  the  entrance.  The  immediate  consequences  of 
the  meeting  were  two  glasses  of  whisky  and  bitters,  and  an  invi 
tation  to  dinner.  The  acquaintance  was  from  Chicago,  and  after 
dinner  added  an  invitation  to  Mr.  Grey  to  accompany  him  to  the 
theatre ;  but  this  last  courtesy  was  declined,  as  there  had  been 
"  a  recent  death  in  the  family,"  and  it  "  would  not  do"  to  indulge 
in  ordinary  frivolities  until  after  the  funeral. 

Accordingly,  left  to  his  own  resources,  he  found  a  seat  in  an 
obscure  corner  of  the  smoking-room,  and,  secure  from  interruption, 
smoked  and  meditated. 

He  was  a  showy  looking  man,  about  thirty-five,  well  formed 
and  well  dressed.  A  black  moustache,  hiding  a  mouth  that  was 
rather  sensual,  and  contrasting  with  his  sallow  cheeks.  Black 
eyes,  that  were  keen  and  bold,  a  little  insolent  perhaps,  defiant, 
certainly.  Catching  a  glimpse  of  him  in  the  corner  as  he  sat 
there,  moody,  resolute,  watchful — and  being  ignorant  of  his 
previous  history,  one  would  instinctively  conclude  that  he  was  a 
man  engaged  in  a  warfare  with  society.  A  longer  look  would  sug 
gest  the  probability  that  the  conflict  had  gone  against  him  on  the 
whole.  Still,  there  was  no  indication  of  surrender.  On  the  con 
trary,  there  were  a  calm  consciousness  of  strength,  and  the  ability 
to  adapt  himself  promptly  to  the  surrounding  circumstances, 
whatever  they  might  be,  and  a  certain  reliance  upon  his  known 
powers,  all  of  which  were  elements  of  ability.  If  Bupert  Grey 
had  been  cast  upon  a  desert  island,  he  would  have  done  all  any 
mortal  could  do  with  the  appliances  he  found  there. 


20  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

At  the  present  juncture  Mr.  Grey  was  perplexed.  He  had  been 
waiting  with  exemplary  patience  for  Mrs.  Norman's  release  from 
her  sufferings.  The  old  lady  was  ripe  for  translation,  and  she  had 
been  specially  kind  to  him  of  late,  and  he  had  been  specially  atten 
tive,  calling  every  day  to  inquire  as  to  the  progress  of  the  disease, 
and  getting  two  good  views  of  the  packet  in  her  writing-desk, 
when  she  dozed — he  being  alone  with  her  in  the  chamber.  Once, 
when  she  was  sleeping  profoundly,  he  ventured  to  glance  through 
one  of  the  papers  in  the  packet,  and  saw  his  own  name.  He  had 
not  time  to  read  all  the  particulars,  as  he  heard  a  step  on  the 
stairs.  This  afternoon  he  had  looked  again,  but  the  paper  had 
disappeared.  No  matter.  The  lawyers  had  it,  no  doubt.  After 
the  funeral  everything  would  come  out.  It  would  have  been  a 
bad  business  had  there  been  no  will.  Mary  and  Nina  would 
divide  the  entire  estate.  The  thought  made  him  shiver  ! 

Among  his  other  attainments,  Mr.  Grey  included  a  good 
knowledge  of  law,  especially  that  portion  of  the  profession  that 
related  to  inheritances.  Mrs.  Norman  dying  intestate,  the  entire 
estate  would  go  to  her  only  son's  daughters.  All  collateral 
branches  of  the  family  were  entirely  and  equally  cut  off,  and  the 
only  expectations  Eupert  had,  were  founded  upon  late  expres 
sions  of  kindness  from  the  old  lady,  the  memory  of  sundry  liberal 
gifts  of  money  from  her,  when  he  had  been  in  straits,  and  the 
sight  of  his  name  in  the  will.  The  enforced  haste  with  which  he 
had  examined  this  document  prevented  the  recognition  of  the 
fatal  fact  that  it  was  legally  worthless,  as  it  was  an  old  will  of 
Eupert  Norman's,  which  had  been  set  aside  by  a  later  one,  leaving 
all  his  possessions  to  his  wife. 

"  I  have  made  a  mistake,"  he  muttered,  as  he  passed  out  into 
the  street.  "  I  should  not  have  shocked  Nina  by  showing  her  my 
liberal  notions.  She  is  terribly  pious,  and  terribly  obstinate,  and 
ha,s  a  terribly  retentive  memory.  I  suppose  I  might  do  some 
repenting,  and  all  that  sort  of  thing,  upon  this  auspicious — I 
mean — melancholy  occasion ;  but  she  will  be  cut  up  by  the  old 
lady's  death,  and  would  not  listen  to  me  for  six  months  to  come. 
Bragdon  is  sharp  as  a  needle  too,  and  would  be  quite  apt  to  warn 
her  against  me.  There  must  be  something  left  to  me.  But  my 
luck  has  been  so  uniformly  against  me,  that  I  cannot  place  con 
fidence  in  it  now !  And  it  will  be  a  week  before  the  will  comes 
to  light,  anyhow." 

Mr.  Grey's  ill  luck  consisted  in  a  pair  of  fast  horses  in  the 


THE  RUTHVENS.  21 

earlier  part  of  his  business  life — very  expensive  little  dinners  at 
Delmonico's,  and  very  extensive  wagers  upon  horse-races,  pigeon- 
matches  and  elections,  and  a  very  cold-blooded  set  of  creditors, 
who,  dissatisfied  with  his  offer  of  twenty-five  per  cent.,  had  put 
him  into  bankruptcy,  and  left  him,  a  helpless  orphan,  upon  the 
cold  charities  of  N'  Yauk. 


CHAPTEE    IV. 
THE  EUTHVENS. 

rpEN  days  after  the  funeral,  Mr.  Grey  climbed  the  stairs  which 
-J-  led  to  a  number  of  lawyers'  offices,  far  down  Broadway.  On 
the  second  floor,  in  the  front  room,  he  found  Philemon  Coke,  Esq., 
the  recognized  legal  adviser  of  the  Norman  family.  He  desired 
to  know  if  a  will  had  been  left,  and  therefore  he  had  concocted  an 
introductory  matter  of  business,  that  would  naturally  bring  the 
facts  in  the  case  to  the  surface.  Mr.  Coke's  table  was  filled  with 
deeds  and  leases,  and  he  seemed  to  be  busy. 

"  Good  morning,  Mr.  Coke !"  he  began,  "  may  I  trespass  upon 
your  valuable  time  long  enough  to  ask  a  question  or  two  P 

"Certainly,"  responded  the  lawyer, — "anything  about  the 
estate  ?" 

"Yes!  No!  That  is,  I  don't  know.  Grandmother  Norman  had 
arranged  with  me  to  get  me  out  of  this  infernal  bankruptcy  busi 
ness.  You  know  I  have  not  been  discharged." 

" Exactly j"  replied  Mr.  Coke,  "your  assets  failed  to  rea 
lize " 

"  Yes ;  she  understood  the  difficulty.  It  has  only  been  a  month 
since  she  proposed  to  relieve  me  from  all  entanglements,  and  I 
suppose  her  sickness  prevented " 

"  You  call  her  grandmother,"  said  Mr.  Coke. 

"  Yes  j  she  was  not  my  real  grandmother — my  grandaunt  in 
fact," 

"  Oh !  ah  !"  said  Mr.  Coke. 

Mr.  Grey  felt  uncomfortable.  Mr.  Coke  appeared  to  think  the 
relationship  was  very  distant,  and  it  suddenly  occurred  to  Eupert 
that  Mrs.  Norman  might  have  left  some  documentary  evidence 
of  a  slight  inaccuracy  in  his  statement.  There  had  really  been  a 


22  FLESH  AND  SPIEIT. 

proposition  made  to  "  fix  up "  his  unfortunate  bankruptcy,  but 
Mrs.  Norman  had  not  made  it.  The  lawyer  took  off  his  spectacles 
to  rest  his  eyes. 

Mr.  Coke  was  near-sighted.  When  he  removed  his  glasses  he 
was  practically  blind.  So,  while  he  gazed  blandly  at  Mr.  Grey, 
he  also  gazed  blindly,  conscious  only  of  the  presence  of  a  bulk 
of  humanity  sitting  opposite.  But  his  mental  vision  was  not  de 
fective.  It  was  his  habit,  when  arguing  knotty  law  points  before 
the  court,  or  addressing  a  somnolent  jury,  to  escape  distraction 
by  removing  his  glass  eyes,  and  thus,  being  oblivious  of  the  phe 
nomena  of  visible  things,  his  mind  worked  with  lucidity  and  pre 
cision.  And  in  the  present  instance  he  looked  into  the  mind  of 
Ms  visitor,  and  discovered  the  object  of  his  visit. 

"You  are  aware,  Mr.  Grey,"  he  said,  "that  the  estate  of  your 
grandaunt  is  inherited  by  her  two  grandchildren  in  the  absence 
of  a  will." 

"  Yes,  certainly ;  that  is — I  suppose  so." 

"  There  is  no  doubt  about  the  law,"  responded  Mr.  Coke.  "  In 
volume  four,  New  York  Eeports,  page  two  hundred  and  six, 
the  case  of  Snooks  versus  Snooks " 

"  Oh,  it  is  all  right,  Mr.  Coke,  you  need  not  refer  to  cases.  I 
suppose  any  agreement  made  by  the  deceased  before  death,  would 
not  bind  the  property  f  " 

"  Certainly ;"  said  Mr.  Coke,  "  a  contract  duly  authenticated 
would  be  binding.  It  is  of  the  nature  of  a  debt,  and  can  be 
enforced  by  process  of  law." 

"  Duly  authenticated  f  said  Grey,  "  that  is,  signed  and  sealed, 
and  referring  to  heirs,  executors,  administrators  and  assigns,  and 
all  that  sort  of  thing." 

"  Not  necessarily,  my  dear  sir  !  Any  one  can  present  an  account 
against  the  estate.  I  have  quite  a  number  of  small  bills  on  file 
here  now,  which  will  certainly  be  paid.  Here  is  one  from  a  dress 
maker,  which  I  shall  pay  to  day,  by  Miss  Norman's  order." 

"  It  is  certain  there  was  no  will  ?"  said  Grey,  after  a  pause. 

"  By  no  means  certain,"  replied  the  lawyer,  resuming  his  spec 
tacles.  "There  may  be  a  will,  but  having  found  none  among  the 
papers — and  I  may  add — having  drawn  none,  as  the  legal  advi 
ser  of  the  family — I  am  inclined  to  think  Mrs.  Norman  died  intes 
tate." 

"  If  there  had  been  a  will,"  said  Eupert,  slowly,  "  you  would 
have  drawn  it,  of  course.  Yet  she  might  have  made  one  at  New 
port  or  Saratoga." 


THE  BUTHVENS.  23 

"  In  which  event,"  said  Mr.  Coke,  "  it  would  probably  have 
been  entrusted  to  me  on  her  return." 

"  She  was  bedridden,  you  know,"  persisted  Mr.  Grey. 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  lawyer,  dryly,  "  yet  I  got  her  signature  to  a 
lease  two  days  before  her  death." 

"  And  she  mentioned  no  will  F 

"  No."  Mr.  Coke  did  not  think  it  necessary  to  say  that  Mrs. 
Norman  had  plainly  stated  there  was  no  will.  She  desired  her 
estate  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  her  granddaughters.  That  Grey 
had  some  decided  expectations  from  the  estate  was  evident,  and 
the  lawyer  detected  a  tone  of  assurance  that  he  was  certain 
was  based  upon  something  more  substantial  than  had  yet 
appeared.  He  was  too  astute  to  ask  any  questions,  knowing  that 
Grey  would  reveal  himself  in  due  time,  if  not  put  upon  his  guard. 

"Am  I  taking  up  too  much  of  your  time,  Mr.  Coke  F  said  he, 
after  some  quiet  cogitation.  "  Speak  frankly." 

"  Certainly  not,"  replied  the  lawyer ;  "  I  am  not  busy  to  day. 
These  papers  will  wait.  Nothing  urgent." 

"  I  am  almost  emboldened  to  ask  if  I  may  smoke,"  continued 
Eupert. 

"  Undoubtedly !  I  do  not  smoke,  but  I  like  the  odor,  especially 
when  the  cigars  are  so  good  as  yours  are  sure  to  be." 

This  was  a  gentle  thrust.  Mr.  Coke  thought  Eupert  could  pay 
a  better  dividend  if  his  habits  were  less  expensive. 

"Ah,  that's  the  trouble !"  said  Grey,  coolly,  as  he  proceeded  to 
light  his  cigar.  "  I  can  possibly  do  without  smoke,  but  I  cannot, 
possibly,  smoke  cheap  weeds.  If  you  will  allow  me  to  take  a  puff 
or  two  my  mind  will  work  more  smoothly." 

He  puffed  away  a  few  minutes,  packing  a  little  cloud  around  his 
head,  and  trying  to  arrange  his  questions.  He  was  after  informa 
tion,  and  the  lawyer  always  closed  his  jaws  with  a  kind  of  snap 
after  exactly  answering  his  interrogatories.  The  old  gentleman 
had  bewildered  too  many  witnesses  in  his  day  to  be  voluble  for 
nothing. 

But  while  Eupert  smoked  his  energies  returned.  The  blank 
denial  of  Mr.  Coke  had  settled  the  will  business,  and  the  shock  of 
the  disappointment  affected  him  no  little;  but  the  man  was  a 
philosopher  after  a  fashion,  and,  accepting  the  inevitable  for  the 
nonce,  he  reflected  more  calmly  as  he  inhaled  the  fragrant  smoke. 
Suppose  Mrs.  Norman  had  left  him  a  few  thousands.  It  .was 
pretty  certain  the  bankruptcy  business  would  swallow  them  all  up. 


24  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

That  cursed  bankruptcy !  It  was  clear  that  he  could  get  no  comfort 
from  Mr.  Coke.  It  was  very  doubtful  whether  he  could  gain  any 
information  either.  Suddenly  a  thought  struck  him.  Now  pro 
ceed  cautiously ! 

"  Mr.  Coke,  do  you  happen  to  know  anything  about  the  Euth- 
vens  ?" 

The  lawyer  started,  and  Grey  saw  it  through  the  smoke. 

"  Eutiiveus  ?"  he  answered,  slowly.  "  What  Euthveus  do  you 
mean  ?" 

"  Indeed  I  don't  know,"  said  Grey,  indifferently ;  "  there  is  a 
fellow  named  Euthven — must  be  related  to  me,  I  suppose — never 
saw  him  or  heard  of  him  until  recently." 

"  What  did  you  hear  I" 

"  Very  little.  By-the-bye,  he  is  not  related  to  me  ;  he  was  Mr. 
Norman's  nephew  or  cousin.  My  relationship  is  to  Mrs.  Norman  ; 
that  makes  a  difference." 

"  I  do  not  understand,"  said  the  lawyer,  dryly ;  "  do  you  refer 
to  any  possible  interest  in  the  estate  ?" 

"  No !  Yes !  That  is,  I  suppose  the  Euthven  interest  would  be 
excluded,  as  he  was  not  related  to  Mrs.  Norman." 

"  There  is  no  possible  interest  either  way.  Mrs.  Norman  held 
her  property  under  the  will  of  her  husband.  She  had  one  son,  who 
died  intestate  in  her  life-time,  leaving  two  daughters.  These 
daughters  inherit  all  the  property,  real  and  personal,  and  no  pos 
sible  claim  could  divert  the  inheritance  from  them.  Mr.  Euthven 
has  no  more  interest  in  the  property  than — Mr.  Grey !" 

Through  the  smoke  Mr.  Grey  detected  the  spiteful  snap  of 
the  near-sighted  eyes.  Decidedly,  Mr.  Coke  was  in  favor  of  ex 
cluding  both  Grey  and  Euthven.  Eupert  waited  to  hear  more. 

"  Has  Miss  Norman  mentioned  the — the  Euthvens  to  you  f ' 
said  the  lawyer,  after  a  brief  pause. 

"  She  did  not  send  me  to  you,"  answered  Grey.  "  I  saw  her 
yesterday,  but  she  said  nothing  about  the  Euthvens  then." 

The  whole  truth  was — Miss  Norman  had  never  spoken  to  him 
on  the  subject ;  but  he  had  seen  the  name  in  the  same  document 
that  contained  his  own — that  is,  in  the  old  will  of  Eupert  Norman 
— and  the  half  petulant  dismissal  of  the  possible  claim  of  the 
"  Euthveus "  by  Mr.  Coke,  convinced  Grey  that  their  case  had 
been  debated  before.  His  own  knowledge  of  the  family  was  very 
vague  and  unsatisfactory.  There  had  been  such  people  about  New 
York  years  ago,  but  they  had  all  disappeared.  So  he  sat  there, 


MISS  ABBY  KEITH.  25 

smoking  and  cogitating,  when  Mr.  Coke  brought  matters  to  a 
crisis. 

"  The  Euthvens,  as  you  call  them,  Mr.  Grey,"  he  said,  "  are  all 
included,  so  far  as  I  know,  in  the  person  of  Mr.  Darcy  Euthven, 
formerly  of  New  York,  but  for  long  years  a  citizen  of  Kentucky. 
I  obtained  his  address,  in  1861,  with  some  difficulty,  and  acting 
under  instructions  from  the  late  Mrs.  Norman,  I  wrote  him,  pro 
posing  to  transfer  certain  property  to  him  as  a  gift  from  her.  The 
mails  were  unsettled  at  the  time,  and  I  had  no  reply  from  him  for 
a  mouth  ;  but  it  came  at  last — shall  I  read  it  to  you  ?" 

"  If  you  please,"  said  Grey,  much  interested.    The  lawyer  got 
up,  and,  taking  a  parcel  of  papers  from  a  tin  box,  selected  the 
letter,  which  he  handed  across  the  table  to  his  visitor.    Eupert 
opened  and  read : 
"  To  PHILEMON  COKE,  Esq.,  New  York. 

"  SIR  :  I  have  your  letter  of  3d  ultimo,  and  in  reply  I  have  to 
say  I  decline  the  gift  you  proffer.  To-morrow  I  shall  begin  a 
march,  which  I  expect  to  end  in  your  city,  and  I  hope  to  set  fire 
to  the  property  in  question. 

"DARCY  EUTHVEN, 

"  Captain,  C.  S.  A." 

"  Whatever  intentions  Mrs.  Norman  may  have  had,"  continued 
Mr.  Coke,  replacing  the  letter,  "  were  entirely  abandoned,  of 
course.  We  have  heard  of  Captain,  or  rather  Colonel,  Euthven 
occasionally,  since  the  war  began,  but  his  name  has  never  been 
mentioned  by  the  late  Mrs.  Norman  since  the  receipt  of  that  letter. 
Certainly,  with  her  decided  views,  she  would  never  have  left  her 
money  to  any  of  the  name." 

Mr.  Grey  took  his  hat  to  depart.  There  was  some  mystery 
about  the  business.  He  would  have  to  investigate  further.  No 
information  to  be  got  from  Mr.  Coke.  He  would  try  Nina. 


CHAPTEE  V. 
Miss  ABBY  KEIIH. 

NOEMAN  recovered  slowly  from  the  shock  of  her 
grandmother's  death.  The  girl  was  sensitive  and  passion 
ate — keeping  her  attendants  in  perpetual  dread  and  anxiety, 
bothering  the  Doctor  by  the  sudden  presentation  of  new  symp- 


26  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

toms,  half  mental  and  half  physical,  with  intervals  of  serene  sub 
mission,  the  more  noticed  for  their  rarity.  She  refused  all  inter 
course  with  the  outside  world,  was  not  well  enough  to  see  Dr. 
Blair,  and  finally  requested  her  sister,  Mrs.  Bragdon,  to  visit  her 
only  once  in  the  day,  and  without  nurse  and  baby. 

u  Nina's  mind  is  certainly  not  right !"  said  Mrs.  Bragdon,  in  con 
fidential  conversation  with  the  last  mentioned  individual,  "  to 
refuse  a  'ittle,  peshus  suga'-plum,  who  loves  his  Auntie  Nina 
too  !" 

"  A-goo  !"  replied  John  Bragdon,  jr. 

Thus  confirmed  in  her  suspicion  of  mental  derangement,  Mrs. 
Bragdon  suggested  to  the  Doctor  the  propriety  of  ministering  to 
the  mind  diseased. 

"  Time,  Mrs.  Bragdon,"  said  the  Doctor,  "  is  the  great  restorer. 
Miss  Norman's  symptoms  are  by  no  means  alarming,  though  they 
are  somewhat  perplexing.  If  we  could  manage  to  get  her  a  con 
genial  companion " 

"  I  proposed  sitting  with  her,  and  to  take  baby  to  amuse  her 
with  his  little  pranks,  but  she  declined." 

"  Urn,  ah !"  said  the  Doctor.  "  T  think  she  would  progress 
more  rapidly  with  an  older  companion." 

"  Really,  Doctor,"  replied  Mrs.  Bragdon,  "  if  Mna  would  take 
any  interest  in  anything,  Johnny  would  amuse  her.  That  child  is 
perfectly  won-der-ful !  He  can  almost  talk !" 

Johnny  was  five  months  old.  His  prose  vocabulary  was  limited 
to  the  dissyllable  above  mentioned,  and  his  poetry  to  a  succession 
of  howls,  when  suffering  with  colic.  Nurse  translated  the  latter 
into  an  instant  demand  for  catnip  tea. 

"  I  cannot  think  of  anybody,"  continued  Mrs.  Bragdou.  "  She 
seems  to  prefer  her  own  society.  It  is  enough  to  put  her  out  of 
her  senses  to  sit  all  day  in  that  dull  room.  She  don't  even  read — 
that  is,  the  papers.  She  is  quite  devoted  to  Thomas-a-Kempis, 
however." 

"  Ah,  well !"  said  the  Doctor,  "  that  will  not  last  long.  It  very 
frequently  takes  that  form,  but  it  is  a  transient  symptom.  Pos 
sibly,  the  mental  organism,  being  dyspeptic,  takes  that  sort  of — 
hum ! — stuff — more  safely  than  solid  reading.  Not  that  she  would 
get  much  solid  matter  out  of  the  papers,  either.  Does  she  take 
no  interest  in  dress,  for  instance  ?" 

"  Not  the  least,"  answered  her  sister,  "  and  that  is  the  next 
thing  to  being  indifferent  to  baby !  I  asked  her  about  her  mourn- 


MISS  ABB  Y  KEITH.  27 

% 
ing,  and  she  said  her  dressmaker  needed  no  instructions.    She 

has  not  tried  on  any  of  her  things." 

"Without  being  exactly  alarming,"  responded  the  Doctor,  "that 
last  mentioned  symptom  is  certainly  unusual.  Are  the  dresses 
made  in  the  latest  fashion  P 

"  Of  course !"  said  Mrs.  Bragdon  ;  "  Madame  O'Eafferty  has  not 
been  from  Paris  over  a  month.  There  is  a  grenadine  there  that 
cost  frightfully,  I'm  sure !  Nina  sent  her  a  note  consisting  of  two 
lines :  '  Dear  Mrs.  O'Eafferty — Please  make  me  some  clothes  !' " 

There  was  something  heinous  about  this.  Mrs.  Bragdon  paused 
to  recover  breath.  The  Doctor  was  stunned. 

"In  the  old  practice,  Mrs.  Bragdon,"  said  the  Doctor,  after 
some  minutes  of  silent  meditation,  "  I  should  iiave  said  quinine 
was  indicated.  Perhaps  I  should  have  alternated  with  tincture  of 
valerian.  But  with  better  light,  I  am.  convinced  that  we  are 
pursuing  the  proper  treatment,  rhus  tox.  and  aconite!  Good 
morning  !" 

As  the  Doctor  passed  out  at  the  street  door  a  lady  passed  in. 
She  gave  a  card  to  the  servant,  saying, 

"  For  Miss  Norman." 

"  Walk  in  the  parlor,  mum,"  said  the  servant ;  "  I  don't  think 
Miss  Nina  will  see  you,  though.  She  is  quite  unwell.  Shall  I 
take  your  card  to  Mrs.  Bragdon  P 

"  Miss  Norman,  first,"  replied  the  visitor,  quietly. 

There  will  be  enough-  time  to  investigate  this  lady  before  the 
servant  returns. 

Under  the  fragment  of  straw  and  other  fragments  of  lace  and 
ribbons,  which,  when  combined  artistically,  was  called  a  bonnet  in 
those  days,  you  can  see  glossy  black  hair,  smooth  and  even,  over  a 
smooth,  white  brow.  You  are  perfectly  certain  that  the  hair  is 
parted  exactly  in  the  middle.  She  does  not  know  what  "  dishev 
elled  locks"  means.  Black  eyes — fearless,  if  not  bold — correspond 
ing  with  the  firm  lines  of  her  mouth.  You  cannot  deceive  this 
lady  with  complimentary  speeches.  She  looks  underneath  your 
polite  smiles  and  sees  what  you  think.  She  has  no  doubt  about 
her  own  status.  You  cannot  condescend  when  you  talk  to  her, 
nor  can  you  flatter  her  by  pretending  to  recognize  her  superiority. 
Altogether,  there  is  an  air  of  hardness  about  her,  modified  some 
what  by  her  round  chin,  slightly  prominent.  Prompt,  decided 
and  quiet ;  accustomed  to  rule.  You  can  see  that  plainly  enough. 
Her  dress  is  perfectly  neat,  and  so  constructed  as  to  escape  notice  5 
not  extravagantly  fashionable,  yet  not  out  of  style. 


28  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

This  was  Miss  Abby  Keith. 

The  servant  returned.  Miss  Norman  would  be  pleased  to  see 
Miss  Keith.  Would  she  please  walk  up  stairs  ? 

Miss  Keith's  face  was  a  study,  as  she  entered  Nina's  room. 

First:  There  was  a  decidedly  sympathetic  expression.  She 
had  heard  of  Nina's  seclusion,  and  her  persistent  refusal  to  see 
visitors.  Mrs.  Bragdon  and  Nina  had  been  pupils  in  Miss  Keith's 
select  school,  two  or  three  years.  They  were  favourites.  Their 
recitations  were  generally  faultless.  The  teacher  was  an  accom 
plished  teacher.  She  was  mistress  of  all  the  branches  she  taught, 
and  she  admired  Nina  greatly,  chiefly  because  she  really  studied 
for  the  sake  of  knowledge.  The  two  girls  had  left  her  for  a  more 
pretentious  institution,  but  the  friendly  relations  between  them 
and  their  first  instructress  were  always  maintained.  Mrs.  Brag 
don  was  slightly  afraid  of  her,  but  Nina,  brave  as  a  lion,  knew 
no  fear.  She  was  her  grandmother's  idol,  and  Miss  Keith  fully 
appreciated  the  strength  of  the  affection  that  bound  these  two. 
Hence  her  countenance  recognized  Nina's  late  loss. 

Second  :  There  must  be  a  limit  to  mourning.  There  must  come 
a  time  when  Miss  Norman  should  appear  once  more  in  society. 
So  Miss  Keith  modified  the  sympathetic  expression  by  raising  one 
eyebrow  in  deprecation  of  too  much  prolonged  grief. 

Third :  There  was  Miss  Keith's  habitual  defiant  air.  She  was 
always  candid.  Candour  was  her  special  weakness.  No  humbug 
with  her,  if  you  please.  She  was  over  thirty,  and  safe  from  all 
kinds  of  soft  nonsense.  She  lived  in  Brooklyn,  and  enjoyed  the 
ministrations  of  the  Eevereud  Horatio  Slam  Dragger.  Dragger 
was  a  foe  to  all  sorts  of  pretence,  theological  or  secular.  Those 
little  peculiarities,  such  as  reverence  for  old  forms  or  old  creeds, 
that  other  reverend  gentlemen,  and  all  reverent  people  favoured, 
were  a  stench  in  the  Dragger  nostrils.  It  was  unmanly  to  be  tied 
up  by  these  old  leading-strings.  Let  every  man  make  his  own 
creed,  out  of  the  depths  of  his  manhood,  and  cast  Athanasius  and 
the  fathers  of  the  Nicene  Council  to  the  moles  and  bats !  Be 
manly!  Yet  some  straight-laced  old  theologues  in  New  York 
and  elsewhere  had  a  disagreeable  habit  of  saying  that  Dragger 
doctrine  was  not  only  manly,  but  also  slightly  devilly.  But  Miss 
Keith  swallowed  Dragger  without  winking.  It  may  be  noted 
here,  that  she  spoke  two  distinct  languages.  One,  her  habitual 
tongue,  fairly  pure  English,  that  is,  new  English ;  and  the  other, 
the  Dragger  dialect,  properly  called  Gush.  The  new  English  was 


MISS  ABBY  KEITH.  29 

for  ordinary  converse.  The  gush  was  only  employed  when  meta 
physical  topics  were  discussed.  It  was  rather  hard  on  Miss  Keith's 
interlocutors,  as  metaphysics  ought  to  be  bad  enough,  when  'pre 
sented  in  ordinary  tongues.  But  the  mixture  of  High  Dutch 
philosophy,  poetry,  infidelity,  Eenan,  Strauss  and  Herbert  Spencer, 
all  elements  of  the  gush  lingo,  would  drive  any  sane  man  mad  if 
too  much  prolonged.  But  Dragger  made  it  popular  somehow, 
and  his  disciples  in  Brooklyn  and  Chicago  are  pouring  out  diluted 
streams  of  this  same  gush  to-day  to  delighted  auditors. 

"  How  are  you,  Nina,  my  dear?"  said  Miss  Keith,  kissing  Nina, 
with  the  sympathetic  expression  most  prominent. 

"I  am  glad  to  see  you,  Miss  Abby,"  answered  Nina 5  "it  was 
kind  of  you  to  come  ;  sit  here  beside  me." 

"  It  was  a  clear  call  of  duty,"  replied  Miss  Abby ;  "  I  heard  of 
your  persistent  seclusion" — here  the  sympathy  dried  up,  and  the 
candid  Dragger  philosophy  became  pronounced — "and  I  felt 
impelled  to  call  and  talk  to  you.  My  dear,  you  must  go  out !" 

"  I  have  almost  decided  to  go  out  of  the  country,  Miss  Abby," 
said  Nina,  wearily.  "  If  you  will  go  with  me,  I  will  go  to  Europe." 

Miss  Keith  made  up  her  mind  on  the  instant. 

"  My  dear  girls !"  she  said,  shaking  her  head ;  "  how  gladly 
would  I  go  with  you,  Nina,  but  my  girls !  I  have  twenty-two 
engaged  for  the  next  session,  and  most  of  them  are  in  my  bible- 
class,  too!" 

Nina  made  up  her  mind  too. 

"  You  cannot  make  a  thousand  dollars  a  year,  Miss  Abby.  You 
told  me  so  yourself.  I  will  gladly  pay  a  thousand  dollars  for 
your  society.  Say  you  will  go,  and  I  will  begin  my  preparations 
at  once." 

"  Don't  you  think,  Nina,"  said  Miss  Keith,  wisely  dropping  in  a 
little  opposition ;  "  don't  you  think  you  have  a  mission  here,  in 
your  own  country  ?' ' 

"  Perhaps.  But  it  will  wait,  I  suppose.  I  must  get  away  from 
all  these  surroundings  for  a  year  or  two.  Will  you  go  ?  You 
shall  not  suffer  any  pecuniary  loss." 

Nina's  maid  entered,  with  a  card.  Nina  glanced  at  it,  and  con 
tinued  :  "  You  must  decide,  Miss  Abby,  before  I  see  this  visitor. 
Will  you  go  P 

"  Yes." 

"  Ask  him  to  walk  up,  Hannah." 


30  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

CHAPTER  VI. 
RUPERT'S  COMMISSION. 

MISS  Norman's  room  was  on  the  second  floor.  It  was  fur 
nished  with  severe  plainness,  containing  only  a  centre  table, 
sofas,  etageres  and  chairs — all  of  black  walnut,  antique  and  ven 
erable.  The  new  comer  found  Nina  and  Miss  Abby  seated  on  the 
large  sofa. 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you,  Rupert,"  said  the  former.  "  Miss  Abby, 
this  is  ray  cousin,  Mr.  Grey;  Miss  Keith,  Rupert,  my  old  teacher 
and  friend." 

"  I  almost  know  Miss  Keith,"  answered  Grey,  shaking  hands 
with  the  ladies.  "  You  have  so  often  spoken  of  her,  Nina,  though 
we  have  not  met  hitherto.  Ah  !  Miss  Keith  !  you  are  to  be  en 
vied  ;  your  vocation  ennobles  the  worker." 

"  All  work  is  honorable,  Mr.  Grey,"  responded  Miss  Abby, "  un 
less  it  is  work  that  injures  another." 

"  Of  course !  of  course !    How  are  you,  Nina  f 

"  Quite  well.  I  have  been  anxious  to  see  you — upon  matters  of 
business "  Rupert  started,  and  Miss  Abby  rose. 

"  I  will  go  down  and  look  for  Mrs.  Bragdou,"  said  she. 

"  Sit  still,  Miss  Abby,"  replied  Nina,  "  the  business  is  not  at  all 
private,  and  I  shall  need  your  advice,  probably.  You  have  heard 
of  the  Ruthvens,  Rupert  ?" 

"  Ruthvens  ?  Yes,  certainly.  That  is — a  Mr.  Darcy  Ruthven — 
a  Rebel  colonel  in  the  war — somewhere  out  West." 

"  Yes.    He  is  the  man.     Do  you  think  you  could  find  him  ?" 

"  No  doubt.  That  is,  if  he  is  alive.  Have  you  heard  from  him 
since — since  our  sad  bereavement  ?" 

"  No,"  answered  Nina.  "  I  have  never  heard  from  him.  But  I 
very  much  wish  to  see  him.  Indeed,  I  must  see  him.  Can  you 
aid  me  in  the  search  ?" 

There  was  such  an  air  of  earnest  determination  about  Miss 
Norman,  that  Grey  swiftly  concluded  to  acquiesce  in  any  plan  she 
proposed.  He  was  very  much  bewildered,  however. 

"  Have  you  consulted  Mr.  Bragdon  ?"  said  he,  after  a  pause. 

«  No." 

"  Or  Mr.  Coke  ?" 

"No." 

'<  Or  Mary  F 


RUPERTS  COMMISSION.  31 

"  No.  I  have  sent  for  you,  in  order  to  escape  consultations.  I 
must  see  Colonel  Euthven.  If  you  cannot  find  him  and  bring  him 
to  me,  I  shall  go  look  for  him  myself." 

"  Are  you  in  earnest,  Nina  f '  said  Grey. 

"  Dead  earnest  !  I  can  know  no  rest,  until  I  discharge  a — an 
obligation — until  I  see  and  have  speech  with  this  man." 

Grey  reflected.  He  remembered  the  note  he  had  read  at  the 
lawyer's  office,  every  word  of  it.  Defiant,  truculent  and  scornful. 
Did  Nina  know  of  this  letter?  and  if  not,  was  it  politic  to  tell  her? 
Should  he  ask  Philemon  Coke,  Esq.  ?  Better  not.  Nina  was  diffi 
cult  to  manage  alone.  Nina  and  Coke  combined  would  be  totally 
unmanageable.  How  much  did  that  sly  looking  schoolmistress 
know  ?  She  sat  there  with  eyes  half  closed,  apparently  inatten 
tive,  or  absorbed  in  the  music  of  the  spheres,  yet  certainly  hear 
ing  every  word  and  concocting  schemes  enough,  no  doubt.  What 
a  demure  looking  old  grimalkin  she  was,  to  be  sure  ! 

"  Can  you  tell  me  the  nature  or  extent  of  this  obligation!"  he 
said,  at  last. 

"  No  !  certainly  not;"  replied  Nina,  decidedly.  "  Indeed,  I  do 
not  myself  know  the  extent  of  it.  I  think  I  can  ascertain,  how 
ever,  in  due  time." 

An  expression  of  gushing  candour  overspread  Eupert's  hand 
some  visage.  Miss  Abby  suddenly  decided  that  he  was  the 
handsomest  man  she  had  ever  seen. 

"  I  must  tell  you  something,  Nina ;"  said  he.  "  This  Mr.  Euth 
ven — or  Colonel  Euthven,  was  requested  to  communicate  with 
grandmother  Norman,  five  years  ago,  preparatory  to  a  transfer  of 
property  of  some  sort " 

"  Yes,"  answered  Nina,  "  I  know  that." 

"  Well !  he  rejected  the  proposal  rudely — I  was  going  to  say 
insolently ;  and  so  far  as  I  know,  his  only  motive  was  his  hatred 
of  everything  Northern.  He  was  a  rebel,  dyed  in  the  wool !" 

"  And  is  so  still,  no  doubt,"  replied  Miss  Norman,  composedly. 
"  But  his  political  proclivities  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  matter. 
I  must  see  him." 

"  If  he  is  still  alive — "  suggested  Eupert,  tentatively. 

"  And  if  not — his  heir  or  heirs  will  do : "  said  Nina,  firmly. 
"  Can  you  go  ?" 

"  Certainly,  if  you  wish  it.  It  seems  to  me  this  is  not  only  a 
wild  goose  chase,  but  a  very  expensive  one.  It  will  cost  two  or 
three  hundred  dollars !"  Nina  walked  over  to  the  centre  table, 


32  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

where  there  were  writing  materials,  and  wrote  a  line  or  two,  hand 
ing  the  paper  to  Mr.  Grey. 

"  Is  that  sufficient  P  she  asked,  when  he  had  read  it. 

"  More  than  sufficient — I  will  account  to  you " 

"  I  don't  want  any  account.  I  want  Colonel  Ruthven.  When 
can  you  start  P 

"  To-morrow ;"  and  seeing  Mna's  discontented  expression,  he 
added,  "  or  to-night,  if  you  prefer  it.  Shall  I  write  to  you  P 

"  If  you  meet  with  no  unusual  difficulties,  you  will  be  back 
within  a  week,  but  if  your  absence  is  necessarily  prolonged,  you 
had  better  write  to  me — care  of  Mr.  Coke.  You  are  very  kind, 
Eupert,  to  undertake  this  service,  and  I  am  grateful.  Please  grant 
me  one  more  favor.  Keep  this  whole  business  secret  for  the  pres 
ent,  until  I  give  you  leave  to  speak  of  it.  Miss  Abby,  you  and  I 
know  of  it,  and  none  besides.  Mr.  Coke  may  give  you  some  infor 
mation " 

"  I  know  as  much  as  Mr.  Coke  knows,"  answered  Grey.  "  I 
will  proceed  with  due  caution,  and  the  secret  shall  not  be  revealed 
by  me."  He  took  out  his  pocket  book,  wrote  an  address,  and  tore 
out  the  leaf.  "  Here  is  my  address — '  Gait  House,  Louisville.'  I 
hope  you  will  not  need  it.  Good  bye !  Good  morning,  Miss 
Keith !" 

"  My  dear,"  said  Miss  Keith,  after  Rupert's  departure,  "  you 
seem  to  repose  unlimited  confidence  in  this  gentleman.  No  doubt 
he  is  eminently  worthy  of  it.  I  was  greatly  impressed  with  his  air 
of  candour.  He  is  your  cousin,  is  he  not  P 

"  Yes ;  that  is,  he  is  related  to  my  grandmother's  family.  You 
had  better  not  place  too  much  confidence  in  his  candour,  however ; 
my  trust  in  him  is  not  unlimited." 

"  Yet  you  have  sent  him  on  this  mission,  which  I  do  not  clearly 
understand " 

"  No,  I  suppose  not.  I  can  probably  explain  to  you  hereafter. 
But  I  was  obliged  to  send  him,  first,  because  he  was  designated  ; 
and  secondly,  because  I  could  find  no  other  messenger ;  and  I  may 
add,  he  is  thoroughly  capable,  and  will  find  it  more  profitable  to 
serve  me  faithfully  in  this  business  than  to  thwart  me." 

Wholly  unconscious  of  this  complimentary  discussion,  Mr.  Grey 
entered  a  Broadway  car  and  rode  down  to  the  Astor  House.  His 
first  business  was  with  Mr.  Coke.  This  must  be  delicately  man 
aged  !  As  he  ascended  the  stairs  leading  to  the  lawyer's  office,  he 
arranged  the  mode  of  attack. 


RUPERT'S  CONFESSION.  33 

"  Mr.  Coke !"  he  began,  after  the  preliminary  salutations,  "  if  I 
find  a  friend  to  purchase  Squeeze  and  Skinnem's  claim,  is  it  prob 
able  that  I  can  obtain  my  discharge  in  bankruptcy  $" 

li  Very  probable,"  answered  the  lawyer,  taking  off  his  spectacles. 

"  Their  claim  is  nearly  five  thousand  ?" 

"  Forty-nine  hundred  and  twenty-two,"  said  Mr.  Coke,  consult 
ing  a  schedule. 

"  They  will  accept  fifty  cents,  I  presume  f ' 

"  Not  if  they  think  they  can  get  fifty-one,"  replied  the  lawyer. 

"  I  don't  think  they  can  get  fifty -one,"  said  Rupert,  with  a  mel 
ancholy  smile.  "  By-the-bye,  Mr.  Coke,  will  you  allow  me  to  look 
at  Colonel  Euthven's  note  once  more  ?  I  want  to  see  the  signa 
ture." 

"  Certainly,"  and  Mr.  Coke  produced  the  paper. 

"Lexington,  Kentucky,"  said  Mr.  Grey,  mentally.  "What  a 
curious  signature !"  he  added  aloud.  "  It  is  very  peculiar ;  I  think 
I  would  know  it  again.  Thank  you !  I  will  ascertain  if  I  can 
make  that  offer  to  Squeeze  and  Skinnem  ;  the  assets  will  pay  the 
others  twenty-five  at  least.  I  must  get  out  of  that  mess  somehow." 
He  took  up  his  hat  and  moved  to  the  door.  "  Ah !  I  had  nearly 
forgotten  !"  he  said,  suddenly.  "  My  memory  is  not  worth  a  cent. 
Here  is  a  commission  that  had  almost  escaped  me !"  and  he  pre 
sented  Nina's  paper  to  Mr.  Coke. 

The  lawyer  examined  it  carefully.  It  ran  thus  :  "  Mr.  Coke  will 
please  .pay  Mr.  Eupert  Grey  one  thousand  dollars  for  my  use. 

"NINA.  NORMAN." 

"  I  do  not  understand  this,  Mr.  Grey,"  he  said  at  last.  "  Miss 
Norman  has  not  advised " 

"  Oh  1  very  well,  Mr.  Coke !"  interrupted  Eupert,  heaving  a  sigh 
of  relief.  "  If  the  thing  is  informal,  please  consult  with  Nina  your 
self.  Of  course,  if  I  cannot  get  the  money,  I  cannot  comply  with 
her  instructions.  Suppose  you  keep  the  paper  ?  I  will  just  write 
across  the  back  that  you  decline  payment " 

"  But  I  do  not  decline  payment,"  answered  the  lawyer,  testily. 
u  I  only  require  to  know  what  use — how  this  money  is  to  be  em 
ployed." 

"  Very  sorry  I  cannot  enlighten  you!"  said  Grey,  coolly.  "  Niua 
requested  me  to  get  a  thousand  dollars  from  you  in  fifty  dollar 
bills.  If  you  haven't  the  money,  or  if  she  has  none  in  your  hands, 
the  matter  ends  there." 

"  Suppose  you  leave  the  order  and  call  to-morrow  ?" 

3 


34  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 


"  I  shall  leave  New  York  this  evening.  I  am  going  to  dine  with 
a  friend  at  the  St.  Denis  an  hour  hence,  then  pack  my  valise  and 
start  for  Philadelphia  at  five.  I  will  send  a  note  to  Nina  from  the 
hotel." 

Mr.  Coke  produced  his  cheque  book,  wrote  a  cheque  for  the 
required  amount,  and  handed  it  across  the  table  to  Eupert. 

"I  suppose  it  is  all  right!"  muttered  Mr.  Coke.  "But  it  is 
infernally  irregular !" 

"Never  have  money  transactions  with  women!"  said  Eupeit, 
irreverently.  "  They  transgress  business  principles  perpetually ! 
Good  morning !" 


CHAPTER  VII. 
Two   SOLILOQUIES.' 

IN  order  to  preserve  the  coherent  drift  of  the  story,  it  is  neces 
sary  that  the  reader  should  know  the  secret  thoughts  of 
the  two  ladies  from  whom  Mr.  Grey  parted  in  the  previous 
chapter.  Miss  Keith  was  prevailed  upon  to  stay  and  partake  of 
luncheon,  and  Nina,  as  in  duty  bound,  partook  of  a  dose  of 
St.  Thomas-a-Kempis.  While  she  perused  the  entertaining  little 
volume,  her  thoughts  wandered,  which  was  a  fortunate  circum 
stance  for  her,  mentally  and  morally. 

"  There  can  be  no  mistake,"  she  thought,  "  about  Grandmother's 
earnest  desire  to  do  what  I  purpose  doing.  It  is  the  more  certain 
because  she  was  very  emphatic  in  her  dislike  of  Southern  people. 
And  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  I  shall  have  to  do  whatever  is 
done,  alone.  Mary  would  not  be  willing  to  part  with  so  large  a 
sum  of  money,  and  Mr.  Bragdou  would  not  be  likely  to  permit 
such  an  outlay.  I  don't  think  I  shall  consult  either  of  them.  I 
don't  think  it  would  be  right,  either,  as  Mary  is  married,  and  I 
shall  never  marry.  Never  !  Then  it  is  certain  that  Eupert  is  the 
proper  person  to  find  the  Euthvens.  Grandmother  certainly  told 
me  to  send  him ;  and  I  have  sent  him,  with  no  instructions  what 
ever,  except  to  find  Darcy  Euthven  and  bring  him  here.  What  is 
Darcy  Euthven  like  ?  He  must  be  fifty  years  old.  How  will  I 
know  that  Eupert  does  not  bring  the  wrong  man  !  Does  Eupert 
know  or  suspect  what  I  intend,  I  wonder  ?  Impossible  ! 

"  I  must  arrange  for  the  division  of  the  estate.    Mr.  Coke  says 


TWO  SOLILOQUIES.  35 

it  is  important  to  fix  ownership  at  once.  I  will  write  a  note,  tell 
ing  him  I  am  ready.  I  wonder  if  there  are  any  disagreeable  for 
malities,  such  as  going  into  court. 

u  Dear  me !  I  have  read  three  pages  of  Keinpis,  and  I  do  not 
remember  a  word.  I  must  read  them  again. 

u  I  wish  Eupert  were  more  trustworthy.  No,  I  don't,  either. 
The  great  struggle  of  my  life  will  be  to  modify  my  hatred  of  that 
man.  He  is  a  wretch !  But  all  men  are  wretches ! 

"  I  have  done  well  to  secure  Miss  Abby.  I  must  make  some 
provision  for  her,  in  case  of  my  death.  Shall  I  consult  Mr.  Coke  ? 
No.  Grandmother  has  told  me  a  dozen  times  to  consult  Mr.  Skil 
let  on  all  matters  of  business.  He  is  a  disagreeable  old  wretch. 
But  she  knew  best.  I  will  write  to  him,  also,  to-morrow. 

"  To-morrow  will  be  Saturday.   Fll  go  to  church  on  Sunday. 

"  I  have  never  examined  my  dresses !  I'll  do  it  this  very  day. 
That  will  be  a  treat  to  Miss  Abby,  also.  She  shall  stay  after 
luncheon.  It  was  certainly  wise  to  engage  her.  I  can  go  where  I 
please  with  her,  and  we  will  go  to  Europe  as  soon  as  I  settle  this 
Euthven  business.  Mentone  or  Cannes  for  the  winter.  How  can 
I  get  the  special  property  I  want  ?  Mr.  Coke  can  arrange — no, 
Mr.  Skillet.  How  can  I  account  to  him  for  desiring  this  special 
property  ?  I  need  not  explain  at  all !  Suppose  it  is  a  mere  whim  j 
who  will  question  my  right  to  indulge  it  1  I  will  write  to  Mr. 
Skillet  at  once !" 

She  drew  her  chair  to  the  table,  and  wrote  the  note.  While  she 
is  thus  employed,  the  reader  can  investigate  the  course  of  Miss 
Abby's  reverie. 

"  It  was  a  good  spirit  in  attendance  upon  me  this  morning," 
thought  Miss  Abby,  "  that  impelled  me  to  call  011  Nina  to-day. 
The  prospect  of  visiting  the  classic  shores  of  the  Old  World  is 
very  inviting.  It  is  sad  to  miss  Mr.  Dragger's  sermons,  but  I  can 
read  the  old  ones.  I  wonder  what  Nina  is  thinking  about  ?  She 
is  evidently  in  deep  thought.  What  will  Mary  think  of  this  new 
move  ?  But  it  makes  little  difference,  as  Nina  was  always  the 
stronger,  and  she  is  free  now  to  choose  her  own  companions.  Her 
share  of  the  estate  will  be  im-mense  !  No  one  knows  the  value  of 
the  Norman  property.  I  am  not  going  to  give  up  the  Institute, 
either.  I  will  find  some  capable  woman  to  take  charge  in  my 
absence,  and  keep  control  in  my  own  hands.  I  need  not  tell  Nina. 
A  thousand  dollars,  and  all  expenses  of  course.  It  is  far  better 
than  twenty-two  scholars,  with  rent  and  board  to  pay,  especially 


36  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

as  only  half  are  m  the  first  class,  aud  half  of  the  second  class  don't 
pay  their  bills  !  I  can  give  a  capable  woman  five  hundred  dollars 
a  year,  and  make  her  responsible  for  the  rent.  That  will  be  the 
plan. 

"  What  elegant  gloves  Mr.  Grey  wears !  He  is  certainly  the 
handsomest  man  I  ever  met !  Nina  does  not  like  him.  That's  a 
comfort !  He  seemed  very  eager  to  comply  with  her  wishes.  That 
was  the  money ! 

"  I  wish  it  was  luncheon  time ! 

"  Of  course  it  was  the  money !  He  looks  like  a  man  who  could 
spend  any  amount  of  money.  If  I  were  to  marry  such  a  man,  I 
would  teach  him  to  earn  money  too ! 

"They  used  to  have  splendid  luncheons  here,  while  the  old  lady 
lived  ! 

"Nina  will  wear  black  at  least  a  year.  She  must  have  any 
quantity  of  colored  dresses.  Probably  she  will  give  them  away. 
She  had  a  lovely  ashes  of  roses  at  the  concert  last  month — per 
fectly  new, 

"  Really,  I  am  half  starved ! 

"  European  travel  enlarges  one's  ideas  amazingly.  Anna 
Squills,  who  spent  only  a  year  abroad,  is  really  a  diiferent  girl. 
She  actually  speaks  English  with  an  accent !  She  was  in  Paris 
seven  or  eight  months,  and  jabbers  French  on  all  occasions.  I 
hope  Nina  will  spend  some  time  in  the  German  capitals.  I  should 
like  to  become  acquainted  with  some  of  the  advanced  thinkers  of 
the  Old  World.  Mr.  Dragger  admires  them,  I  know.  Really, 
theology  is  a  science  I  must  study  a  little  more  carefully.  But 
with  the  higher  spiritual  insight,  one  does  not  need  old-time 
creeds.  There  is  Squizzim.  He  is  a  duck  !  And  he  makes  him 
self  a  new  creed  as  often  as  he  likes.  Mr.  Dragger  says  he  is  a 
wonderful  man !  Won-der-ful  !  He  seems  so  spiritual — ethereal ! 
The  fire  of  his  genius  lifts  him  above  mere  temporalities ! 

"  I've  a  great  mind  to  ask  Nina  for  a  cracker ! 

"  Would  it  be  possible  to  lead  Mr.  Grey  to  an  appreciation  of 
the  capabilities  of  the  spiritual  life?  Is  there  not  in  the  profound 
depths  of  manly,  human  consciousness,  the  rich  soil  of  native 
nobleness,  some  germ  of  the  higher  soul-life,  recognizing  the 
dynamical  principle  of  affinities  ?  And  if  so,  might  not  the  true 
soul  of  this  man  be  reached,  by  persistent  effort  ?  The  incrusta 
tion  of  selfishness,  which  the  antagonisms  of  busy  life  and  the 
chemical  reactions  of  conflicting  interests  deposit  upon  the  soul 


TWO  SOLILOQUIES.  37 

surface,  may  oe  dissolved  or  broken  up  by  appeals  to  the  affec 
tions  !  And  then  the  limitless  capacities  of  the  diviner  nature, 
that  unfailing  impress,  which  centuries  of  alienation  have  not 
entirely  effaced,  since  the  creation  or  development  of  man,  would 
unfold  and  expand,  beautifying  the  earth,  and  banishing  to  the 
moles  and  bats  the  figments  of  harsh  creeds,  resolving  all  ques 
tions  by  the  unanswerable  logic  of  Love. 

"  I  should  like  to  write  that  down,  if  I  had  paper  and  pencil. 
I  don't  see  how  any  ordinary  man  could  resist  it. 

"  Nina  will  have  to  wait  a  week  or  two  for  Mr.  Grey's  return. 
In  the  meantime,  I  can  arrange  the  affairs  of  the  Institute. 
Where  can  I  find  a  competent  person  ?  Let  me  see.  First,  I 
must  find  one  whom  the  landlord  will  be  willing  to  trust.  I  do 
not  propose  to  incur  responsibility  for  the  rent. 

"  What  in  the  world  is  Nina  writing  ?  A  note  to  somebody. 
I  never  heard  of  her  having  any  male  friend,  except  Mr.  Grey. 
She  has  addressed  the  note  to  mister  somebody.  I'll  go  over  to 
the  register  to  warm  my  feet,  and  can  perhaps  see  the  address. 
I  took  great  pains  with  Nina,  especially  in  penmanship,  and  she 
writes  plainly.  Ah  !  indeed  1  Mr.  Timothy  Skillet,  Wall  street, 
New  York. 

"  Now,  Mr.  Skillet  is  the  very  man  for  me  to  consult.  He  has 
a  niece  at  the  Institute. 

"  Mr.  Skillet  has  no  appreciation  of  the  inner  light  however.  I 
think  I  shall  consult  a  Medium.  If  I  could  only  get  Mr.  Dragger 
to  investigate  spiritual  phenomena !  With  his  wonderful  appre 
ciation  of  character,  he  would  make  a  grand  conductor  of  spiritual 
seances.  His  antithetical  references  last  Sunday  were  perfectly 
splendid.  I  intended  to  write  that  sermon  down,  but  I  have  been 
so  occupied.  Perhaps  I  can  remember  it.  Let  me  see!  The 
reliance  upon  mere  sensuous  perception,  is  the  common  mis 
take  of  humanity.  Those  truths  that  we  know  most  thoroughly, 
are  not  those  that  we  have  learned  with  our  eyes  or  ears.  But 
man  is  endowed  with  other  faculties,  by  which  he  apprehends 
abstract  truths,  and  truths  of  such  dimensions  as  may  not  be 
compassed  by  the  use  of  outward  organs.  Thus,  we  see  the 
myriad  stars,  sparkling  upon  the  midnight,  numberless,  and  we 
even  give  names  to  clusters  and  constellations.  Yet  the  ignorant 
Arab  of  the  desert  did  this,  before  Anglo-Saxon  civilization  began. 
These  nomadic  tribes  had  a  name  for  Sirius,  corresponding  with 
Dogstar,  before  Alfred  reigned  in  England ;  and  it  may  be,  that 


38  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

the  astrological  lore  of  these  children  of  the  tropics,  whereby  they 
foretold,  with  amazing  accuracy,  the  rise  and  overflow  of  the 
Nile,  was  an  attainment  a  step  higher  than  the  astronomical 
knowledge  of  to-day.  Who  can  tell  the  capacity  of  man  for  the 
reception  of  truth  ?  Or  who  can  estimate  the  power  of  this  native 
insight?  The  anguished  longing  for  higher  attainments,  spring 
ing  up  from  the  hidden  depths  of  human  nature,  ennobled  by 
suffering,  breaks  forth  ever  and  anon,  and  through  the  long  annals 
of  the  race  marks  the  eras  of  progress.  Contrasting  Sherman 
with  Attila,  Grant  with  Sidney  Johnston,  Fizzlebacou  with  St. 
Augustine,  or  Squizzim  with  Solon,  we  may  find  where  that  spirit 
ual  perception  which  grasps  unseen  realities  has  most  distinctly 
shown  its  power. 

"  Dear  me  1  I  have  not  forgotten  a  word  of  it.  But  the  trouble 
is,  to  know  exactly  which  of  the  worthies  thus  placed  in  contrast 
is  the  better.  I  would  ask  Mr.  Dragger,  only  he  would  think  I 
had  not  a  grain  of  sense  not  to  know.  I  must  really  read  up 
ancient  history.  Mr.  Dragger  also  spoke  of  beans,  and  made  it 
very  clear,  that  if  their  axils  (I  wonder  what  the  axils  are  f)  were 
properly  managed,  they  might  bear  Bartlett  pears.  I  wish  I  had 
about  six  Bartlett  pears  now. 

"  There  is  the  luncheon  bell  at  last.  Mna  looks  as  if  she  could 
live  on  air.  Yes,  my  dear,  certainly.  I  walked  all  the  way  from 
Fulton  Ferry,  and  the  exercise  has  given  me  quite  an  appetite." 


CHAPTEE  VIII. 
HELEN. 

AT  the  opening  of  the  year  1861,  Darcy  Euthven,  Esq.,  was  prac 
ticing  law  in  Cincinnati.  By  the  time  the  spring  buds  made 
their  appearance,  the  climate  of  that  prosperous  city  had  become 
unsalubrious  to  him  and  his  household,  simply  because  he  was  an 
outspoken  man  and  very  decided  in  his  political  opinions.  Con 
sequently,  he  sold  his  possessions  in  Ohio,  and  removed  to  Lex 
ington,  Kentucky,  which  was  his  wife's  birthplace.  The  air  was 
filled  witli  warlike  rumours,  and  when  the  sun  began  his  return 
journey  from  the  Northern  tropic,  Mr.  Euthven  was  captain  of  a 
cavalry  company,  enrolled  in  the  service  of  the  Confederate  States 


HELEN.  39 

He  was  a  colonel  when  lie  was  brought  back  to  Lexington  to  die  of 
his  wounds,  in  1864,  and  before  the  grass  appeared  upon  his  last 
resting  place,  it  was  reopened  to  receive  the  body  of  his  heartbro 
ken  widow. 

None  of  the  other  horrors  of  war  can  compare  with  its  culmina 
ting  horror  of  orphanhood.  And  Helen  Euthven  stood  by  her 
mother's  grave,  filled  with  an  unspeakable  longing  for  death. 
She  had  been  well  instructed  in  those  grand  doctrines,  under 
whose  power  all  endurance  is  possible  ;  and  she  would  have 
answered  her  pastor's  whispered  consolations  with  meek  submis 
sion,  if  the  death  she  coveted  had  only  been  impending  over  her. 
But  the  consciousness  of  sound  health,  the  conviction  that  she 
had  a  course  prescribed  for  her,  through  a  howling  wilderness, 
wherein  no  mortal  life  could  be  found  in  sympathy  with  hers  ;— 
and  the  possibility  of  separation  from  her  beloved,  to  be  measured 
by  scores  of  years, — rested  upon  her  heart  and  mind.  There  was 
mingled  with  her  sorrow  a  sense  of  gratitude  also,  that  these  dear 
ones  would  sorrow  no  more ;  and  the  calm,  hopeless,  purposeless 
drift  of  her  life,  had  this  much  of  promise  in  it.  As  the  Giver  of 
good  had  so  tempered  this  double  bereavement,  that  the  death  of 
her  mother  was  a  ground  of  thanksgiving,  because  of  her  deliver 
ance  from  the  woes  of  widowhood,  Helen  looked  forward  to  a  time 
in  the  near  future,  when  the  same  peaceful  end  might  possibly 
come  to  her. 

There  was  a  better  promise  than  this,  however.  There  were 
girls  of  her  own  age,  hovering  around  her,  with  tearful  eyes,  and 
these  also  were  suffering  similar  bereavements.  Among  her  school 
companions  and  friends  it  might  be  said,  as  was  said  of  Egypt  at 
the  date  of  her  last  plague — there  was  not  a  house  in  which  there 
was  not  one  dead !  And  Helen,  touched  by  the  unselfish  sympa 
thy  of  her  companions  in  suffering,  learned  new  lessons  of  endur 
ance,  as  she  mingled  her  tears  with  theirs. 

A  week  after  her  mother's  death,  Helen  learned  her  own  utter 
poverty.  She  was  alone  in  the  world,  and  had  to  choose  between 
a  life  of  dependence  or  immediate  exertion  to  win  her  daily  bread. 
She  was  a  guest  at  her  pastor's  house,  and  she  reached  the  deci 
sion  of  the  question  in  this  wise :  Henry  Gastoii,  Esq.,  who  had 
some  legal  business  before  the  court  then  in  session,  called  at 
the  parsonage  one  afternoon,  and  requested  an  interview. 

"  I  come  with  a  message  from  my  wife,  Miss  Kuthven,"  he  said, 
after  a  preliminary  greeting.  "  She  begs  you  to  return  with  me 


40  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

to-morrow  to  our  country  home.  It  will  be  dull  in  comparison  with 
Lexington,  but  we  will  endeavour  to  make  your  time  pass  as 
pleasantly  as  may  be." 

"You  are  very  kind,  Mr.  Gaston,"  answered  Helen,  "  but  I  can 
not  visit  Mrs.  Gaston  just  now." 

"  Visit  f '  said  Tige — "  we  don't  invite  you  to  visit,  but  to  take 
up  your  abode  permanently  with  us.  You  see,"  continued  Tige, 
in  answer  to  her  perplexed  look,  "your  father  and  mine  were 
partners  in  Cincinnati.  My  brother  is  named  Darcy  Euthven, 
after  your  father,  so  we  are  almost  related." 

"  I  don't  think  I  quite  understand  you,"  she  said,  doubtfully. 

"  Oh,  it  is  all  plain  enough.  You  have  no  relations  nearer  than 
my  wife  and  myself,  and  there  was  never  a  final  settlement  of 
accounts  between  your  father  and  mine." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say  your  father  was  indebted  to  mine  f 

"Yes.  That  is— there  was  no  formal  settlement.  The  law 
business  in  Cincinnati  was  left  by  Mr.  Euthven,  in  the  charge  of 
his  partner.  I  was  taken  into  the  office  just  after  your  father 
came  to  Lexington,  and  I  remember  several  cases  that  were  after 
wards  tried  in  the  courts  in  which  Gaston  and  Euthven  were  the 
attorneys." 

"  Well  f» 

*•  Well !  Mr.  Euthven  was  clearly  entitled  to  half  the  fees  in  all 
such  cases.  When  we  get  home  you  ami  I  will  go  over  the  records, 
and  reach  a  settlement." 

"  I  think  I  do  understand  you  now,  Mr.  Gaston,"  said  Helen. 
"  My  father  had  no  possible  claim  upon  any  business  done  in  Cin 
cinnati  after  his  departure.  He  has  told  me  more  than  once  that 
Mr.  Gaston  made  him  a  handsome  allowance  at  their  separation, 
paying  him  far  more  than  his  just  proportion  for  the  unfinished 
business.  You  have  imagined  all  you  have  told  me,  or  you  have 
invented  the  story  to  conceal  your  generous  purposes." 

"  Eeally !"  stammered  Tige,  "you  are  mistaken.  I  am  sure  some 
money  is  due  to  you — and  anyhow,  Nell  and  I  are  so  lonesome  that 
it  would  be  a  great  charity  to  come.  We  have  set  our  hearts  upon 
it,  and  I  would  not  know  how  to  face  Nell  without  you.  We  did 
not  know  until  yesterday  that  you — that  your  mother " 

"  That  I  was  an  orphan,"  said  Helen,  mournfully.  "  Ah,  Mr. 
Gaston !  I  appreciate  your  kindness ;  but  you  know  my  father's 
daughter  must  earn  her  living  by  honest  labour." 

"  I  am  sure  I  don't  know  what  sort  of  labour  you  can  make  profit 
able,"  said  Gaston ;  "  can  you  plough,  for  example  ?" 


HELEN.  41 

"  I  can  teach  French  and  music,  I  think,"  answered  Helen,  with 
steady  composure.  "  I  have  a  list  already  prepared,  of  gentlemen 
whose  influence  I  hope  to  secure.  I  have  your  name  and  Judge 
Hammond's,  and  I  intended  to  apply  to  you  for  aid  and  advice  to 
morrow." 

"  That  is  it,  exactly !  Come  out  with  me  this  evening  and  we 
will  consult  Nell  V ' 

"  I  cannot  go  this  evening,  Mr.  Gastou ;  Mrs.  Crowder  is  coming 
here  this  evening  to  see  me  by  appointment." 

"Mrs.  Crowder!" 

"Yes.     She  has  three  daughters,  and  wants  a  governess." 

"  Governess!"  said  Tige,  slowly.  "  I  don't  know  how  that  will 
work,  Miss  Helen ;  Mrs.  Crowder  lives  in  Cincinnati." 

"  Yes ;  I  should  regret  leaving  Lexington,  and  all  my  kind 
friends  here ;  but,  if  I  should  suit  Mrs.  Crowder,  it  would  be  very 
foolish  to  reject  any  offer  she  might  make." 

"  I  don't  know  what  to  say  about  this  business  !"  said  Mr.  Gas- 
ton.  "  You  are  a  mere  slip  of  a  girl,  and  the  idea  of  your  going 
out  to  service — I  mean,  taking  charge  of  those  abominable  brats 
of  Mrs.  Crowder's — is  perfectly  absurd!  You  would  die  in  a 
month !" 

"  Alas !"  answered  Helen,  "  I  have  been  wicked  enough  to  hope 
so.  Don't  encourage  such  evil  thoughts  in  me,  1  pray  you !" 

"  I'll  bring  Nell  in  to-morrow  !"  said  Tige,  desperately.  "  If  she 
don't  knock  this  Crowder  matter  in  the  head,  I'm  much  mistaken." 

An  hour  or  two  after  Mr.  Gaston's  departure,  Mrs.  Crowder  was 
announced,  and  Helen  went  down  to  the  drawing-room  with  con 
siderable  trepidation.  Her  visitor  was  a  meek  looking  little  woman, 
dressed  in  funeral  black.  All  her  exterior  indications  were  gentle. 
She  was  deeply  pious,  and  her  eyes  were  habitually  half  closed,  as 
if  to  shut  out  the  view  of  distracting  temporalities,  while  her  spirit 
indulged  in  heavenly  musings.  Helen's  entrance  called  her  down 
from  the  spheres. 

"  Well,  my  dear  Miss  Euthven,"  she  began  with  a  preliminary 
sigh  of  sympathy,  "  I  hope  you  feel  resigned  and  submissive  !" 

"  I  am  trying  madam,"  answered  Helen. 

"  This  world  is  all  a  fleeting  show !"  said  Mrs.  Crowder,  solemnly. 
"  There  is  no  such  thing  as  happiness  to  be  found  here,  except  in 
the  contemplation  of  a  better  one  beyond  the  skies  I  When  you 
reach  my  age,  my  dear,  you  will  know  how  empty  and  unsatisfy 
ing  all  earthly  joys  must  be!" 


42  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

;<  Yes,  ma-am !" 

"  I  sometimes  think,"  continued  Mrs.  Crowder,  "  that  it  is  a  sin 
to  smile !  But  it  is  so  natural !  Yet  Grace  can  overcome  Nature ! 
Add  to  your  Faith,  my  dear!  Keep  adding!  Faith  without  works 
is  dead  !" 

"  Yes,  ma-am,"  said  Helen,  submissively. 

"  Add  to  your  Faith  Virtue !"  continued  Mrs.  Crowder.  "  Virtue 
is  the  crowning  grace !  And  as  faith  is  a  silent,  unobtrusive  grace, 
so  virtue  must  be  in  the  heart.  The  sentiments  must  be  virtuous. 
Submission  is  a  great  virtue,  and,  no  doubt,  submission  is  the  very 
grace  referred  to  in  the  passage !" 

"  Dr.  Graves  says  virtue  means  '  courage '  in  that  passage," 
observed  Helen. 

"Does  he  P  answered  Mrs.  Crowder,  with  a  sniff.  "  Ah,  well ! 
the  courage  of  submission,  probably.  But  my  time  is  limited,  my 
dear,  and  time  is  a  talent  which  must  not  be  buried  in  a  napkin ! 
I  called  to  inquire  if  you  would  like  to  undertake  the  charge  of  my 
dear  girls — in  their  studies,  I  mean.  I  cannot  offer  you  a  very 
large  salary ;  but  the  duties  will  not  be  onerous.  You  sew  remark 
ably  well,  I  am  told.  I  have  a  sewing  machine— Singer's.  I 
should  like  you  to  assist  me  with  the  sewing,  when  not  engaged 
with  the  children." 

"  If  you  think  I  am  competent,  Mrs.  Crowder,"  said  Helen,  "  I 
will  be  very  glad  to  instruct  your  daughters.  I  think  I  am  equal 
to  ordinary  English  studies — and  French — and  music " 

"Oh,  we  will  make  due  allowance  for  your  inexperience,"  said 
Mrs.  Crowder,  with  a  smile,  subdued  but  cheerful.  "  You  have 
been  accustomed  to  Singer's  ?" 

"  Yes,  ma-am." 

"  Well,  then,  Miss  Euthven,  if  a  hundred  dollars  a  year  with 
your  board,  you  know " 

"  I  will  be  very  thankful,  Mrs.  Crowder,"  said  Helen,  when  Mrs. 
Crowder  paused,  "  to  earn  a  hundred  dollars  a  year,  and  I  will  do 
my  best." 

"  And  you  don't  object  to  the  sewing  ?" 

"  Oh  no,  ma-am  !    I  will  sew  as  much  as  you  like." 

"  Then,"  said  Mrs.  Crowder,  rising,  "  the  only  point  remaining 
to  settle  is  the  time ;  can  you  come  at  once  f 

"  Whenever  you  please,  ma-am." 

"  I  am  going  to  Cincinnati  this  evening ;  do  you  think  you 
could  get  ready  to  accompany  me  !" 


.DUTOHY.  43 


"  I  will  be  quite  ready  in  an  hour- 


"  You  are  very  prompt,  my  dear.  We  shall  get  along  famously  i 
I  will  call  for  you  at  three  o'clock ;  good  morning !  Give  my 
regards  to  Dr.  Graves.  Perhaps  you  may  as  well  let  the  terms  be 
confidential  at  present — good  morning !  At  three,  punctually." 

At  half-past  three  o'clock  there  were  two  cards  left  at  the  par 
sonage  for  Miss  Euthven.  One  was  inscribed  "  Darcy  B.  Gaston  ;" 
the  other,  «  Mr.  Eupert  Grey."  The  servant,  not  knowing  of 
Helen's  final  departure,  merely  informed  the  two  gentlemen  that 
Miss  Euthveu  was  out. 


CHAPTEE  IX. 

DUTCHY. 

"^TOBODY  knew  where  Dutchy  came  from.  He  did  not  know 
-L-N  himself.  As  far  back  as  his  memory  extended  he  had  been 
a  New  Yorker.  He  was  a  newsboy  at  first.  He  had  a  dim  recol 
lection  of  his  inauguration  into  this  vocation,  and  his  first  venture 
in  the  'Erald  and  Trybune.  He  infested  hotel  corridors,  ferry 
landings,  and  street  corners,  and  sold  his  wares.  At  night  he 
expended  a  large  portion  of  his  gains  in  the  Bowery  Theatre, 
where  he  refreshed  himself  with  pea-nuts.  When  he  outgrew  the 
proportions  to  which  newsboys  are  limited,  he  went  into  the  petty 
larceny  business,  and  was  reasonably  successful,  getting  "  sent 
up"  once  and  again,  but  coming  down  always  with  larger  experi 
ence  and  increased  ability.  He  knew  all  the  "  cops"  that  were 
dangerous,  and  as  he  could  count  them  on  his  fingers,  he  easily 
avoided  their  beats.  He  was  matured  when  the  war  began,  and 
was  quite  prosperous  as  a  bounty -jumper  for  a  year.  But  he  fell 
into  a  streak  of  ill-luck,  and  took  his  last  bounty  in  a  city  regi 
ment,  where  the  corporals  and  sergeants  knew  him  and  his  previ 
ous  history,  and,  being  carefully  watched,  failed  to  "jump"  before 
his  regiment  started  for  the  seat  of  war.  His  company  was  sta 
tioned  at  a  little  village  on  the  border,  to  guard  the  railway  that 
passed  through  it.  Here  he  encountered  the  horrors  of  war,  by 
getting  into  a  fight  at  a  political  meeting,  where  he  managed  to 
murder  one  bucolic  voter  and  maim  another.  To  avoid  scandal 
he  was  transferred  to  another  station,  where  warrants  could  not 
reach  him,  and  one  tine  night  he  deserted.  Travelling  on  the  rail- 


44  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

way  was  attended  with  difficulties,  as  lie  was  adorned  with  the 
uniform  that  was  not  supposed  to  be  journeying  northward,  and 
New  York  was  his  objective  point.  He  got  a  coat  and  a  straw 
hat  without  a  brim  from  a  scarecrow  in  a  friendly  cornfield  one 
moonlight  night,  and  walked  ten  miles  before  he  found  a  barn 
with  a  window  open.  Here  he  was  found  by  the  farmer,  while  he 
was  enjoying  his  beauty  sleep,  and  promptly  ex-plained  his  tres 
pass  by  telling  the  agriculturist  a  harrowing  story  of  a  widowed 
mother  left  destitute  and  sick,  when  the  cruel  draft  tore  him  from 
her  arms.  He  had  received  a  letter  from  her  a  few  days  before,  in 
which  she  depicted  her  privations  in  language  which  his  sobs  kept 
him  from  repeating.  So  he  had  crawled  out  of  the  hospital  and 
started  homeward.  His  trousers  had  betrayed  him,  and  he  thought 
it  best  to  make  a  clean  breast  of  the  desertion  part.  The  only 
drawback  to  the  remainder  of  his  narrative  was  his  ignorance  of 
the  main  facts  he  recited,  as  he  really  did  not  know  that  he  had 
ever  had  a  mother.  The  farmer  (it  was  in  Pennsylvania)  was 
visibly  affected  by  the  dismal  story  of  his  unbidden  guest.  .  He 
took  him  to  the  kitchen  and  gave  him  a  breakfast,  which  Dutchy 
pronounced  "  heavenly."  After  the  meal  his  host  gave  him  the 
choice  between  two  days'  work,  without  wages,  in  the  cornfield,  or 
immediate  deliverance  to  a  military  station  a  mile  off.  Dutchy 
longed  for  work,  and,  armed  with  a  hoe,  went  from  the  breakfast 
table  to  the  cornfield.  He  did  a  man's  work  and  ate  a  man's 
rations  at  meal  time.  At  night  the  farmer  escorted  him  to  a  gar 
ret  room,  and  locked  him  in.  Dutchy  slept  the  sleep  of  the  just, 
untroubled  by  dreams. 

The  next  day  the  farmer  worked  by  his  side,  and  lightened  the 
labor  of  both  by  cheerful  conversation.  He  asked  numberless 
questions  about  the  war,  and  Dutchy  gave  him  details  as  vera 
cious  as  the  cotemporaueous  "  extras"  furnished  the  citizens  of  iSTew 
York.  At  supper  time  Dutchy  expressed  himself  so  well  content 
with  agricultural  employment,  and  so  anxious  to  continue  the 
peaceful,  innocent  life  of  the  country,  that  the  farmer  was  fairly 
captivated,  especially  as  the  soldier  was  indifferent  about  the 
matter  of  wages. 

"  Anything  you  please,  boss,"  he  said,  in  conclusion ;  "  I  am 
green  about  this  here  business,  but  I'm  larnin'.  Pay  what  you 
likes  at  the  end  of  the  week." 

That  night  the  farmer  did  not  lock  him  in,  and  Dutchy,  being 
somuambulic,  wandered  over  the  house,  in  the  small  hours.  At 


DUTCH7.  45 

early  dawn  the  farmer  sought  him,  but  found  only  the  scarecrow- 
coat  and  hat,  with  the  blue  trousers  which  the  Government  had 
furnished  Dutchy  at  the  beginning  of  his  military  career.  It  was 
a  curious  coincidence  that  the  farmer  missed  corresponding  articles 
of  attire  from  his  own  wardrobe,  and  he  tore  his  hair  in  voiceless 
agony  when  he  remembered  that  he  had  left  United  States  cur 
rency,  amounting  to  ten  or  twelve  dollars,  in  the  pocket  of  a  miss 
ing  garment.  At  the  same  moment  Dutchy  was  exchanging  some 
of  this  identical  currency  for  breakfast  at  a  smart  restaurant  in  a 
railway  station  a  dozen  miles  from  the  farmhouse. 

To  illustrate  the  far-reaching  consequences  of  apparently  trivial 
actions,  it  may  be  stated  here,  that  the  political  complexion  of  that 
Pennsylvania  district  was  materially  affected  by  this  little  play 
ful  exchange  of  Dutchy 's.  That  agriculturist  had  voted  against 
"Jackson  and  liberty"  all  his  mature  life,  before  the  fatal  morning 
when  Dutchy  left  the  blue  trousers.  This  useful,  not  to  say  orna 
mental  part  of  the  military  dress  of  the  period,  had  been  furnished 
the  Government,  by  a  contractor,  at  six  dollars  and  ninety -eight 
cents,  and  as  they  were  composed,  in  the  main,  of  shoddy,  the 
profit  of  the  contractor  was  about  six  dollars  a  pair.  The  acute 
judgment  of  the  farmer  quickly  detected  the  flimsiness  of  the  ma 
terial,  and  by  a  swift  process  of  reasoning,  he  pronounced  sentence 
against  the  paternal  authority  that  clothed  Dutchy  in  habiliments 
so  far  inferior  to  those  he  had  taken.  The  farmer  tried  on  the 
blue  garment,  and  being  agitated  as  well  as  unpractised,  he  thrust 
his  nether  limbs  entirely  through  the  fragile  material.  In  attempt 
ing  to  withdraw  his  limbs  he  made  another  grievous  rent,  like 
that  of  envious  Casca,  and  involved  the  whole  affair  in  remediless 
destruction. 

"  Dese  pe  Gov'ment  preeches!"  he  muttered,  sorrowfully  survey 
ing  the  wreck ;  "und  dey  vas  made  by  New  Yauk  teifs,  I  schvear! 
I  votes  mit  Shackson  nex  time.  Sturm  wetter ! " 

It  was  a  sad  sight  to  see  that  respectable  father  of  a  family, 
stalk  up  to  the  polls  on  the  next  election  day,  holding  open  in  his 
hand  one  of  those  time-honored  tickets  adorned  with  a  hickory 
tree,  over  which  floated  a  scroll,  bearing  the  inscription—"  Jack 
son  and  Liberty."  The  Keystone  State  has  been  gradually  grow 
ing  Democratic  ever  since. 

Wholly  unconscious  of  the  evil  he  had  wrought,  Dutchy  took 
the  first  train  running  east  and  north.  He  saw  the  telegraph 
poles  flitting  by,  as  he  sped  along,  and  had  uneasy  visions  of  cops 


46  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

at  the  end  of  the  journey.  The  train  slackened  speed,  as  it  ran 
through  Jersey  City  in  the  twilight,  and  Dutchy  got  on  the  rear 
platform  and  dropped  safely  on  the  track.  An  hour  afterwards  he 
crossed  the  river  by  the  Hoboken  ferry,  and  once  in  the  great  city, 
he  was  comparatively  safe.  Before  he  got  off  the  train,  he 
stumbled  over  a  carpet  bag  belonging  to  a  sleeping  passenger, 
and  desiring  to  save  the  other  travellers  from  a  similar  stumble, 
he  took  the  carpet  bag  with  him.  He  found  a  change  of  raiment 
in  it,  when  he  had  time  to  examine  it  in  a  cheap  lodging-house  in 
the  Bowery.  The  bag  itself,  with  a  tooth-brush  and  comb,  which 
were  useless  to  him,  and  unpawnable,  he  carefully  lost  in  a  vacant 
lot,  a  mile  distant  from  his  lodgings.  The  bag  needed  some  re 
pairs,  as  he  had  been  forced  to  cut  it  open,  having  no  key  to  fit 
the  lock. 

Dutchy  lived  a  virtuous  and  harmless  life  for  several  days.  He 
ventured  out  after  night  fall,  with  his  face  wrapped  up  in  a  hand 
kerchief,  suffering  from  the  memory  of  a  toothache  which  had 
haunted  his  juvenile  days.  Cops  passed  him,  glancing  at  him  in 
curiously,  as  he  plodded  by.  His  habiliments  were  respectable, 
and  fitted  him  reasonably  well,  but  his  supply  of  currency  was 
diminishing.  During  the  first  week,  he  managed  to  make  an 
honest  living,  by  pawning  all  the  articles  of  dress  he  had  obtained 
in  his  homeward  journey,  excepting  the  one  suit  he  wore.  At  the 
end  of  the  week,  in  a  private  conversation  with  himself,  he  thus 
stated  his  condition. 

"  Flat  busted !  that's  so !  Last  shirt  gone,  and  on'y  got  two 
shilliu'  left.  Landlord  wants  pay  beforehand,  and  to-morrer  ends 
the  week  I've  paid  for.  Sumthin's  got  to  be  done!  Had  to  take 
a  ten  cent  hash  to-day.  Can't  stand  that  long !" 

He  resolutely  faced  the  situation,  and  brought  into  play  all  the 
keen  logic  of  which  such  men  have  a  stock.  Not  hampered  by 
ethical  considerations,  the  conditions  of  the  problem  were  easily 
stated. 

"  Bounty-jumping  is  played  out !"  he  thought — "  it  won't  do  to 
be  cotched  any  more,  and  I  don't  want  to  git  into  no  more  guard 
houses.  I  might  sew  up  one  arm,  and  grind  a  organ — but  I  can't 
buy  nary  organ  for  two  shillin'.  It's  a  mean  business  anyhow, 
and  some  cussed  cop  would  find  me  out.  I'll  go  down  'long  shore 
to-morrer,  and  git  some  work !" 

No  man  who  has  been  accustomed  to  useful  occupation,  can  ap 
preciate  the  heroism  of  this  resolve.  Since  the  day  he  gave  up 


DUTCHY.  47 

the  newspaper  business,  Dutchy  had  never  done  anything  like 
work,  except  upon  compulsion.  A  brutal  lieutenant  had  obliged 
him  to  carry  a  log  of  wood  a  half  day,  while  he  was  a  warrior,  as 
the  penalty  for  some  breach  of  discipline.  The  sun  was  hot  and 
the  labour  monotonous  and  profitless,  and  Dutchy  promised  to 
murder  that  lieutenant  whenever  he  could  do  it  safely.  As  work 
is  the  one  beneficent  provision  against  madness  or  idiocy,  that 
has  been  implanted  in  the  nature  of  humanity,  Dutchy,  who  con 
tradicted  all  normal  instincts,  hated  work  especially. 

It  was  therefore  a  refreshing  sight,  to  see  him  the  next  day 
cheerfully  toiling  on  one  of  the  piers.  He  had  found  work,  on  his 
first  application.  A  steamer  loading  with  cotton,  was  to  sail  within 
the  week,  and  rather  larger  wages  than  usual  were  offered  to  any 
willing  laborer  who  would  meet  the  emergency  "  by  doing  his  best." 
At  the  end  of  the  week,  he  had  more  earned  money  in  his  pocket, 
than  he  had  ever  honestly  owned  before.  The  effect  was  to  hu 
manize  the  man,  and  he  actually  felt  some  respect  for  himself,  as 
he  sat  on  the  edge  of  the  pier,  counting  his  currency.  It  might 
have  been  the  turning  point  in  the  man's  history ;  the  first  step 
from  vagrancy  to  respectability,  but  for  a  sudden  temptation  which 
the  watchful  enemy  passed  swiftly  before  his  startled  eyes. 

The  ship  was  slowly  moving,  a  tug  drawing  her  out  into  the 
stream.  The  purser  leaning  over  the  bulwark,  was  talking  to  the 
stevedore  who  had  just  paid  Dutchy  his  wages.  There  was  some 
controversy  between  them,  relating  to  the  lading  of  the  ship,  and 
the  stevedore,  who  had  a  bulky  wallet  in  his  hand,  thrust  it  hastily 
into  an  outside  pocket,  just  as  he  passed  Dutchy,  near  the  end  of 
the  pier.  The  latter  saw  the  money  wallet,  coveted  it  greedily, 
and  with  practiced  fingers  twitched  it  out  of  the  other's  pocket 
and  thrust  it  into  his  own.  One  minute  later,  he  was  on  the  next 
pier,  hidden  behind  a  long  gangway,  his  heart  thumping  so  loudly, 
that  he  thought  it  could  be  heard  twenty  yards  off.  But  he  was 
apparently  sleeping  soundly,  when  a  watchman  shook  him 
roughly,  and  ordered  him  off  the  pier.  He  did  not  know  how 
much  time  had  passed,  but  he  staggered  on  to  the  street,  and 
with  well  counterfeited  drunkenness,  slouched  along,  across  the 
entrance  of  the  pier  he  had  left — passed  the  stevedore,  whose 
pale  face  glared  upon  him  in  the  twilight,  as  he  recounted  the 
story  of  his  loss  to  an  attentive  cop,  unknown  to  Dutcby.  Two 
or  three  streets  further  down  the  river,  he  was  swallowed  up  in  a 
throng  of  people  rushing  to  a  ferry  house.  He  allowed  himself  to 


48  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

be  carried  on  with  the  crowd,  and  imitating  his  "  file  leader  "  as 
they  passed  the  window,  bought  a  ticket  for  Newark. 

A  citizen  of  that  prosperous  city  kindly  directed  him  to  a  cheap 
boarding  house,  and  here  Dutchy  philosophically  rested,  paying 
his  board  regularly,  but  speaking  to  no  one. 


CHAPTEE   X. 
VENDETTA. 

rpHE  pocket-book  that  Dutchy  found,  almost  ready  to  drop  from 
-L  the  pocket  of  the  chief  stevedore,  contained  sundry  memoranda 
relating  to  the  lading  of  the  sbip.  These,  with  the  wallet  itself, 
Dutchy  cooked  in  a  brisk  fire.  The  wallet  also  contained  three 
hundred  and  ten  dollars  in  crisp,  new  greenbacks,  mostly  of  the 
denomination  of  five  dollars.  These  did  not  need  cooking. 

Dutchy  read  the  New  York  Herald  daily.  For  two  weeks  after 
his  removal  to  Newark,  that  enterprising  journal  had  something 
to  say  about  him,  more  or  less  interesting.  He  learned  first,  that 
he  had  stolen  the  wallet  some  hours  before  the  ship  sailed,  and 
had  secreted  himself  in  the  hold,  among  the  barrels  and  bales  he 
had  rolled  into  their  places.  Consequently  he  would  not  be  heard 
of  until  the  return  of  the  Hecla,  bound  to  Havre  first,  and  thence 
to  Port  Elizabeth,  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  She  was  to  bring  a  return 
cargo  of  wool,  already  engaged,  and  would  be  due  in  New  York 
in  the  early  winter.  The  next  report  contradicted  this  statement, 
as  he  had  been  seen  in  New  York,  and  the  police  were  on  his 
track.  This  did  not  disturb  him  much.  The  solitary  considera 
tion  that  affected  him,  almost  to  tears,  and  quite  to  profane  ejac 
ulations,  was  the  knowledge  that  the  "  Boss"  had  paid  fifty  men, 
himself  included,  out  of  the  same  wallet  only  an  hour  before  he 
had  conveyed  it.  His  knowledge  of  the  exact  sciences  was  limited, 
but  he  was  able  to  estimate  the  loss  to  himself  at  about  five  hun 
dred  dollars,  a  loss  caused  by  the  premature  payment  of  those 
fifty  laborers. 

"  He  had  no  call  to  pay  in  such  a  cussed  hurry !"  muttered 
Dutchy,  day  after  day,  as  he  brooded  over  the  matter  ;  "  nobody 
axed  him  to  pay  before  sundown.  Cuss  the  luck !" 

The  next  day  brought  a  new  development.    The  boss,  who 


VENDETTA.  49 

was  only  the  representative  of  a  firm,  had  been  arrested.  Some 
thing  had  transpired  to  awaken  the  suspicion  that  he  had  robbed 
himself.  The  man  had  borne  a  good  character  hitherto,  but  the 
temptation  to  possess  himself  of  "  nearly  a  thousand  dollars"  was 
too  much  for  him,  and  the  pretext  that  his  pocket  had  been  picked 
was  too  transparent. 

"  Sarved  him  right  I"  commented  Dutchy.  "On'y  he  was  too  big 
a  fool  for  that  dodge.  Anyway,  he  won't  stay  in  long.  Election 
first  week  in  October.  He  knows  too  many  woters.  l  Thousand 
dollars J I  Did  he  have  two  wallets  ?  Cuss  him  1" 

There  were  no  more  references  to  the  "  robbery  on  the  pier"  for 
several  days.  Dutchy  read  the  paper  carefully,  and  began  to  be 
uneasy.  One  day  he  saw  a  New  York  "  cop"  lounging  down  the 
street,  in  plain  clothes.  He  knew  the  cop,  and  as  he  peeped 
through  his  shutter,  he  felt  very  grateful  for  its  shelter.  That 
night  he  left  his  lodgings,  and  walked  on  the  railway  track  to 
Elizabeth.  He  took  passage  on  a  second-class  train  for  Trenton, 
then  walked  again  on  the  Philadelphia  road  through  the 
day,  reaching  Kensington  at  nightfall,  footsore  and  weary.  He 
was  devoured  by  a  double  dread.  He  feared  the  loss  of  his  cur 
rency,  and  also  the  return  to  the  unwholesome  restraint  of  the 
army.  His  brief  experience  of  military  life  satisfied  him  that  he 
was  not  intended  by  nature  to  seek  the  bubble  reputation  at  the 
cannon's  mouth.  He  would  like  to  be  a  sutler  or  a  quartermaster, 
but  these  attractive  vocations  could  not  be  had  for  the  asking. 
He  found  lodgings  at  a  carpet  weaver's,  and  fed  frugally  at  cheap 
eating  houses,  changing  frequently.  One  morning  he  found  a 
copy  of  the  Herald,  a  day  old,  and  while  he  waited  for  his  break 
fast,  he  studied  the  paper,  and  at  last  found  a  paragraph  that 
took  away  his  appetite  full  five  minutes.  It  was  headed,  "  The 
pier  robbery,"  and  ran  thus  : 

"  There  is  no  doubt  that  the  pocket  of  Mr.  Lapp  was  picked  by 
one  of  the  labourers,  and  the  police  have  positive  information  of 
his  present  whereabouts.  He  has  been  hiding  in  a  neighboring 
city  for  some  weeks,  but  mysteriously  disappeared  a  few  days 
ago.  It  is  another  case  of  police  blundering,  or  perhaps  of  collu 
sion,  but  he  is  certain  to  be  caught  before  the  week  is  out." 

Dutchy  tore  the  announcement  out  of  the  paper,  and  scattered 
the  fragments  of  it  over  the  sanded  floor.  Then  he  took  his 
breakfast.  It  was  raining ;  the  wind  from  the  east,  and  when  he 
left  the  eating-house,  he  thought  it  would  be  safe  to  stretch  his 

4 


50  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

legs  with  a  good  walk.  Taking  the  railway  track  once  more,  he 
walked  out  to  the  crossing  of  the  North  Pennsylvania  road,  arriving 
in  time  to  see  a  freight  train  run  off  the  track.  He  had  been  idle 
and  housed  so  long,  that  work  was  a  positive  luxury,  and  throw 
ing  off  his  coat,  he  laboured  heartily  two  hours  or  more.  A 
brakesman  had  been  hurt,  and  carried  away,  and  the  conductor 
touched  Dutchy  on  the  shoulder  as  he  was  resuming  his  coat. 

"  Say !    Are  you  on  this  line  F  said  the  conductor. 

"  Yes,"  answered  Dutchy,  promptly. 

"  I'm  two  hands  short.  Bill  is  hurt  quite  some,  and  I  started 
with  one  man  too  little.  Can  you  brake  F 

"  Dun'no,"  said  Dutchy,  doubtfully  ;  "  d'ye  mean  screw  up  them 
wheels  atop  of  the  cars  F 

"  Ezackly  !  Pooh  !  its  nothin'  to  do.  One  whistle  is  for  down 
brakes.  Then  you  wind  em  up  like  blazes.  Can't  you  come 
along  ?  This  is  the  through  freight." 

"  And  lose  my  place  at  the  depot,"  said  Dutchy,  deceitfully. 
"  Not  if  I  knows  it." 

"  You  won't  lose  anything,"  replied  the  conductor.  "  I'll  make 
it  all  right  with  the  superintendent.  He's  my  uncle.  Mr.  Grimes." 

"  Ya-as,"  drawled  Dutchy.  "  I  guess  I  know  Mr.  Grimes,  and 
he'd  blow  me  up  prime,  and  stop  my  wages  too." 

"  No  danger !"  persisted  the  conductor,  eagerly.  "  Here !  I'll 
write  you  a  note  at  the  first  stop.  It's  allers  allowed  to  take  a  man 
when  we're  short  on  brakes.  Got  thirteen  cars,  and  all  heavy. 
Here !  I'll  give  you  the  rear  brake — come  along !" 

Dutch y  shook  his  head  in  outward  discontent  as  he  clambered 
up  to  the  car  roof.  He  kicked  out  the  lever,  releasing  the  brake, 
: growling  and  muttering,  while  he  inwardly  chuckled.  He  rode  all 
that  day  exposed  to  the  storm,  going  farther  and  farther  westward, 
with  peace  in  his  bosom,  because  no  cop  would  dream  of  seeking 
him  among  the  brakesmen  of  the  "  North  Penn."  The  conductor 
wrote  a  formal  document,  addressed  to  the  superintendent,  exon 
erating  John  Smelzer  (which  was  the  name  Dutchy  took  with  his 
first  brakes)  from  all  blame,  on  account  of  absence  from  the  main 
station.  At  the  western  terminus  of  the  line  he  was  regularly 
enrolled  as  brakesman,  paid  liberally  for  the  service  already  ren 
dered,  and  assured  of  prompt  settlements  at  the  end  of  each  fort 
night  thereafter. 

So  passed  the  autumn.  In  addition  to  the  new  greenbacks,  all 
of  which  he  sewed  up  in  the  lining  of  his  coat  collar,  Dutchy  ac- 


VENDETTA.  51 

cumulated  sundry  greasy  notes  from  honest  wages.  He  had  few 
opportunities,  and  no  temptations,  to  spend.  The  letter  to  Super 
intendent  Grimes  he  tore  into  small  pieces,  and  sowed  them  along 
the  line  of  railway  one  windy  day  in  the  early  winter. 

One  day  John  Smelzer  was  detailed  to  assist  in  braking  a  long 
passenger  train.  He  had  the  rear  platform.  The  track  was  hidden 
beneath  the  snow,  only  a  few  inches  deep,  but  sufficient  to  make 
the  track  slippery  and  braking  troublesome.  He  was  in  an  ill 
humour  when  night  came,  and  disposed  to  be  gruff  and  quarrel 
some.  A  passenger  came  out  upon  the  platform  to  smoke,  and 
addressed  some  remark  to  Mr.  Smelzer  in  a  tone  that  was  not  con 
ciliatory.  The  brakesman  looked  steadily  at  him,  and  recognized 
the  lieutenant  who  had  forced  him  to  "  nurse  the  log  baby  "  at 
the  far-off  military  station.  The  officer  unfortunately  had  a  reten 
tive  memory  also,  and  being  accustomed  to  quick  obedience  and 
the  show  of  outward  respect,  swore  at  the  brakesman  first  for  his 
surly  demeanor,  and  then  recognizing  him,  exclaimed : 

"  Dutchy !    Deserter !    I'll  fix  your  flint  P 

As  he  turned  to  re-enter  the  car,  Dutchy  drew  the  iron  pin  from 
the  coupling  and  struck  him  on  the  back  of  the  head.  As  the 
warrior  stumbled  forward  and  fell  senseless  on  the  floor,  Dutchy 
dropped  deftly  on  the  track,  and  by  the  time  the  startled  passen 
gers  had  raised  the  soldier  and  examined  his  cracked  crown,  the 
train  was  a  mile  or  two  beyond  the  scene  of  the  "  accident." 

Because  it  was  an  accident.  The  lieutenant  had  a  military  cap 
on,  and  the  wound  was  not  visible,  until  a  passenger  found  the 
blood  dripping  over  his  arm,  supporting  the  officer's  head.  A  doc 
tor  was  found  in  the  next  car,  and,  after  a  hasty  examination,  he 
pronounced  the  hurt  fatal.  Dutchy  had  committed  his  second 
murder,  though  he  did  not  know  it.  As  soon,  as  he  had  delivered 
the  blow,  he  tossed  the  coupling-pin  into  the  snow,  and  mechanic 
ally  closed  the  car  door  before  he  dropped  from  the  train. 

"  He  struck  his  head  agin  this  iron  stanchion,"  said  an  on-look 
ing  passenger.  "  He  came  in  from  the  rear  platform  and  kind  o' 
whirled  round,  and  fell  heavy  like." 

"  Something  must  have  knocked  him,"  said  the  doctor;  "his 
head  looks  like  it  had  been  smashed  with  a  hammer." 

"  How  long  will  he  last,  doctor  F  asked  the  conductor. 

"  Last  ?  He  won't  last  at  all.  You  had  better  carry  him  to  the 
baggage  car."  He  felt  his  wrist  a  moment.  "  It's  about  over  with 
him— just  a  flutter.  You  had  better  get  an  inquest,  I  suppose. 


52  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

These  gentlemen,  who  saw  him  fall,  can  give  their  testimony  what 
made  him  fall.    That  is  the  only  question." 

.  "Little  tight,  I  guess,"  ventured  another  passenger.  "These 
military  men  are  hard  drinkers !  I  noticed  him  a  minute  ago  as 
he  went  past,  and  he  was  walking  stiff  and  dignified  ;  you'd  a 
thought  he  was  commander-in-chief." 

"  Only  leftenant,"  said  the  conductor ;  "  here's  his  shoulder 
strap.  About  two  miles  to  Scrabbletown.  We'll  stop  in  five  or 
Six  minutes,  and  have  it  all  done  regular." 

"  I'd  like  to  have  him  on  a  table,"  observed  the  doctor,  "  to 
make  a  satisfactory  examination.  You  might  as  well  lay  him 
down  5  he's  done  with  all  earthly  troubles." 

The  sudden  death,  which  would  have  cast  a  gloom  over  that  car 
load  of  passengers  a  year  or  two  before,  was  almost  forgotten 
when  the  train  stopped  at  Scrabbletown.  The  body  was  taken  out 
and  placed  on  a  bench  in  the  station  house.  A  statement  was  has 
tily  drawn  up  by  the  conductor,  signed  by  half  a  dozen  passen 
gers,  the  doctor's  certificate  added — and  the  train  only  delayed 
about  ten  minutes. 

"All  aboard !"  shouted  the  conductor,  at  last.    "  Jim,  have  you 
seen  that  new  brakesman  f 
.  "  No." 

"  He's  gone  off  somewhere  for  a  drink,  confound  him !"  Jim, 
take  the  rear  brake ;  I'll  not  wait  another  minute !  All  aboard !" 
And  he  whirled  his  lantern  in  a  circle — "All  right!" — and  the 
train  plunged  into  the  night  with  a  prolonged  shriek,  as  if  wailing 
for  the  dead  passenger. 


CHAPTER   XI. 

MB.  SKILLET. 

WHEN  Darcy  Gaston  sat  down  by  the  side  of  the  young 
girl,  with  his  mind  oppressed  with  his  dismal  story,  the 
conductor  slipped  away,  to  escape  the  coming  fainting  scene,  and 
the  cries  of  distress  that  were  sure  to  follow  the  recital.  On 
the  contrary,  the  gruff  gentleman,  who  had  first  accosted  Darcy, 
quietly  dropped  into  the  seat  behind  him,  evidently  intending  to 
hear  the  revelation,  and  doubtless  intending  to  "  assist "  in  any 


MB.  SKILLET.  53 

subsequent  demonstration.  There  was  sympathy  in  his  counte 
nance,  certainly,  and  a  business-like  air  of  preparation,  also.  As 
Darcy  glanced  at  him,  over  his  shoulder,  it  occurred  to  him  that 
the  old  gentleman  was  probably  an  undertaker. 

"  The  gentleman  who  sat  beside  you,"  began  Darcy,  "  put  your 
ticket  in  your  satchel,  when  he  left  his  seat." 

"Is  he  gone ?"  asked  the  girl,  startled. 

"  Ye's.    He  requested  me  to  explain — You  were  sleeping " 

"  No.    I  was  awake.    Where  is  he  ?" 

"  It  is  uncertain,"  said  Darcy,  slowly ;  "  the  brakesman  who 
went  with  him  cannot  tell  positively — he  may  be  hurt — by  his  fall. 
He  fell  from  the  track,  and  down  the  hill  side.  Nobody  can  tell 
positively  until  daylight.  My  name  is  Darcy  Gaston." 

"  Darcy  Gaston,"  answered  the  girl  mechanically. 

"  Yes.  I  don't  know  the  name  of  the  gentleman  who  was  with 
you,  but  it  seems  he  knew  me.  One  or  two  of  the  officials  tell, 
me  he  mentioned  my  name,  when  he  left  the  train." 

"  Did  he  ?"  There  was  a  pause  of  some  minutes,  Darcy  wonder 
ing  at  the  quiet  self-possession  of  the  girl,  and  burning  with  curi 
osity  to  know  her  relationship  to  the  missing  man.  The  silence 
was  broken  by  the  gruff  gentleman  behind  them.  i 

"  I  think  you  ought  to  know,  Miss,"  he  said,  "  that  the  chances 
are  agin  your  friend !  He  slipped  over  a  high  bank,  and  I  guess 
he  is  some  considerable  hurted." 

"What  must  I  do?"  said  the  girl,  plaintively j  "can  I  go  to 
him?" 

"  Not  by  no  means  ?"  replied  the  gruff  gentleman,  heedless  of 
grammar ;  "  it  is  not  possible— and  anyway  you  could  do  nauthin'j 
in  my  opinion,  he's  past  help  !"  The  girl  started,  and  looked  to 
Darcy  for  confirmation.  The  boy's  eyes  answered  her,  as  the  old 
gentleman  continued :  "  It's  jest  one  of  them  cases,  where  nauthin' , 
is  certain,  but  where  it  is  safe  to  expect  the  worst.  Was  he  your 
father  F 

"  No." 

"  Oh  !  your  uncle  ?" 

"  No." 

"  Um  !  Ah !  your  brother  pr'aps  ?" 

"  No.  Will  you  please  tell  me  what  I  should  do  ?"  this  was  ad 
dressed  to  Darcy j  "I  know  there  is  some  terrible  duty  that  I 
must  perform :  I  am  ready  to  do  whatever  you  tell  me,  Mr.  Gas- 
ton." 


54  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

11  You  were  certainly  under  this  gentleman's  protection,"  said 
Darcy ;  "  may  I  ask  his  name  F 

"  His  name — I  am  not  sure  that  I  am  at  liberty  to  tell  you.  Not 
now,  certainly.  Yes,  I  was  going — am  going  to  New  York,  in  his 
charge,  to  meet  relations  that  I  have  never  seen,  and  scarcely 
heard  of.  I  do  not  know  where  to  look  for  them,  or  what  to  say, 
if  I  find  them.  All  this,  I  am  compelled  to  tell  you,  but  I  cannot 
explain  anything  that  appears  mysterious.  I  am  under  obligations 
to  remain  silent,  at  least  at  present.  And  I  am  so  confused  by  this 
new  calamity,  that  I  do  not,  cannot  think  of  the  proper  course  for 
me  to  pursue !"  While  she  said  all  this  with  outward  composure, 
the  tears  were  dropping  over  her  cheeks  and  falling,  unnoticed, 
upon  her  dress*. 

"  If  you  will  trust  a  stranger,"  said  Darcy,  earnestly,  after  he 
had  looked  back  at  the  gruff  gentleman  who  was  apparently  indulg 
ing  himself  in  a  peaceful  nap ;  "if  you  will  allow  me  to  serve  you, 
as  I  would  serve  my  sister,  I  will  do  all  a  man  may  do  in  your  be 
half,  without  any  explanation." 

"If  you  are  Mr.  Darcy  Graston,"  answered  the  girl,  "surely  I 
will  be  glad  to  trust  you.  And  I  am  grateful  too.  If  you  will  al 
low  me  to  think  over  the  matter,  a  little,  I  will  tell  you  as 
much  as  I  dare.  I  may  say  this  much  :  I  bless  the  Divine  mer 
cy,  that  sent  your  father's  son  to  me,  in  this  dire  emergency  !" 

Darcy  looked  at  her  in  blank  astonishment.  He  had  all  along 
been  talking  to  her,  feeling  that  she  was  inexperienced  and  de 
cidedly  young.  And  now  there  grew  up  in  his  mind,  the  convic 
tion  that  she  was  a  matured  woman,  capable  of  deep  emotions, 
and  acutely  conscious  of  the  delicacy  of  her  situation.  He  was 
burning  to  ask  her  directly,  what  relation  she  sustained  to  the  lost 
passenger,  but  something  in  her  manner  deterred  him.  He  was 
bewildered  by  her  reference  to  his  father,  and  while  he  was  try 
ing  to  frame  a  question  in  answer  to  her  last  remark,  she  turned 
to  him  suddenly  and  continued : 

"  I  know  your  family — that  is — your  brother.  I  think  I  remem 
ber  your  father  also,  but  am  not  certain.  But  I  know  he  was  a 
gentleman  of  spotless  honor.  My  name  is — not  Mary  Harding, 
but  I  am  not  free  to  tell  you  what  is  my  real  name,  and  if  you 
will  please  accept  Mary  Harding  until — until  I  am  released  from 
the  compulsion  that  keeps  me  silent,  I  will  be  very  thankful.  The 
name  I  have  given  you  is  on  a  grave  stone,  in  my  native  town, 
and  was  borne  by  my  earliest  friend " 


ME.  SKILLET.  55 

"  You  are  Helen  Euthven  !"  said  Darcy,  impetuously ;  "  Oh,  Miss 
Euthven — do  not  answer  me — I  know  all  about  it  now.  Tige  told 
me.  My  brother,  I  mean."  She  covered  her  face  with  her  hands 
as  he  went  on ;  "I  will  call  you  Miss  Harding — I  will  ask  you  no 
questions.  You  have  no  brother.  If  you  will  honour  me  so  much, 
I  pray  you  to  consider  me  your  brother.  I  will  serve  you  in  any 
way,  and  will  relinquish  the  title  whenever  you  bid  me.  And  now 
I  will  say  no  more.  Ah!  remember  only  what  my  father  was  to 
yours  and  trust  me." 

She  put  out  her  hand  which  he  seized  and  pressed,  and  when 
she  withdrew  it  she  leaned  back  in  her  seat  and  drew  her  hood 
over  her  face.  Darcy  felt  it  was  a  compact  between  them,  and 
'his  heart  beat  a  little  faster  as  he  reflected  upon  his  new  responsi 
bilities. 

"  I  must  write  all  this  to  brother  Tige  !"  he  thought,  "  and  ask 
his  advice.  But  may  be  I  am  not  at  liberty  to  ask  anybody !  I 
will  wait  until  we  reach  New  York.  I  must  take  her  to  some 
hotel,  of  course.  How  ignorant  and  inexperienced  I  feel !  Tige 
would  know  exactly  what  to  do.  Perhaps  she  will  let  me  write 
to  ./Nell — but  that  would  be  the  same  thing  as  writing  to,Tige. 
Dear  me  !  She  is  going  to  sleep.  Poor  girl !  Hillo  !  What  the 
deuce — Oh  !  excuse  me,  sir." 

The  gruff  old  gentleman  behind  him  had  poked  him  in  the  back 
with  his  finger,  startling  him  in  the  midst  of  his  cogitations.  He 
was  standing  up  when  Darcy  turned,  and  beckoned  him  away  to 
the  other  end  of  the  car. 

"  Do  you  smoke  ?"  said  he,  as  Darcy  followed. 

"  Sometimes,  sir  F 

"  Wa-al,  come  into  the  smoking  car.  I've  suthin'  to  say  to  you. 
You  and  me  is  responsible — that  is,  sorter  responsible,  for  this 
business.  And  I'm  going  to  see  it  out.  I  am,  by  thunder !" 

Darcy  followed  him,  and  passing  through  two  or  three  cars  they 
reached  the  smoking  car.  The  old  gentleman  pulled  out  his  cigar 
case,  presented  it  to  Darcy  very  politely,  and,  seating  themselves 
in  a  quiet  corner,  they  blew  a  double  cloud.  No  question  about 
the  quality  of  the  weeds,  Darcy  thought. 

"  You  see,  Mr.  Gaskins — that's  your  name  ?" 

"  No,  sir ;  Gaston." 

"  Oh  1  ah !  Wa-al,  Mr.  Gaston,  let's  come  to  business.  You 
see,  we  was  the  committee  that  started  this  thing.  And  I  was  the 
primary  caucus.  Did  you  ask  the  young  lady  if  she  had  any 
money  V1 


56  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

"  Certainly  not,  sir  !"  answered  Darcy,  indignantly. 

"  Wa-al,"  said  the  other,  composedly,  "  we  must  find  out,  some 
how.  If  she's  well  to  do  we  can  syinathize,  and  all  that  sort 
o'  thing.  But  if  she  arn't,  we  must  do  suthin'.  What  do  you 
propose  ?" 

tl  Propose  f    I — I  have  made  no  proposition,  sir." 

11  Exactly.    But  what  do  you  propose  F 

Darcy  was  learning  a  new  lingo.  He  made  a  mental  note — 
"  Propose  "  meant  "  intend." 

"  You  mean,  what  are  my  intentions  F  he  asked,  doubtfully. 

"  Ezackly.    What  do  you  propose  F 

"  I  hardly  know,  sir.  I  thought  I  would  take  the  lady  to  a 
hotel " 

"  Fi'th  Av'noo,  of  course,"  said  the  old  gentleman,  nodding ;. "  or 
the  Brevoort  is  more  nobby,  and  more  expensive.  I  should  think 
it  would  not  be  amiss  to  find  out  how  long  her  purse  is,  first. 
P'raps  you  have  plenty  of  beans  yourself?" 

"  Beans  !" 

*'  Ya-as !  beans — spondulies — stamps.  But  she  don't  look  like 
a  gal  that  would  allow  a  stranger  to  pay  her  expenses.  That  chap 
arn't  eomin'  back.  He's  tother  side  o'  Jordan,  and  I  guess  he  took 
his  wallet  with  him.  Did  she  tell  you  who  he  was  F 

"  No,  sir." 

"  How  does  the  weed  smoke — pooty  good,  eh  ?  Partagas.  You 
come  from  down  South  somewhere,  and  so  does  the  gal !  I  s'pose 
you  air  a  rebbil  F 

"  I  was  in  the  Confederate  army,  sir,"  answered  Darcy,  stiffly ; 
"  but  I  was  captured  and  released  upon  condition  that  I  should 
take  up  arms  against  the  United  States  Government  no  more." 

"  Ah !  Wa-al,  it's  no  consekense,"  said  the  old  gentleman ;  "  the 
foolishness  is  pooty  nigh  over,  anyway.  You  did  not  git  hurt  in 
the  war  F 

u  No,  sir.    I  was  captured  in  my  first  battle." 

"  That's  lucky !    What  is  the  young  lady  called  F 

u  Miss  Harding." 

"  Urn !  Miss  Harding."  He  took  a  card  from  his  pocket  and 
wrote  a  few  lines  on  the  back  of  it.  Darcy  glanced  at  him  while 
he  was  thus  engaged,  and  the  harsh  accents,  gruff  manner,  and 
general  quaintness  of  the  man,  all  faded  from  his  memory  while 
Darcy  studied  his  countenance.  There  was  an  expression  of 
genuine  kindness  in  his  eyes,  blue  and  gentle  j  an  air  of  unfliuch- 


MOVING.  5T 

ing  determination  about  his  mouth,  and  in  spite  of  his  gossiping 
manner,  a  quiet  dignity  in  his  tout  ensemble,  that  impressed  the 
youth  strongly  when  the  old  gentleman  handed  him  the  card. 

"  Head  it,  please." 

Darcy  read :  "  Mrs.  Camp,  No.  96  Camden  street.  Mr.  Gaston, 
the  bearer,  has  a  lady  in  his  charge,  whose  protector  was  killed  on 
the  railroad  this  evening.  Please  give  her  a  room  and  such  atten 
tion  as  she  may  need,  until  she  finds  her  relatives  in  New  York, 
and  oblige  yours,  T.  S." 

"  My  name  is  on  the  other  side,"  said  the  old  gentleman.  "  Mrs. 
Camp  is  the  wife  of  my  bookkeeper.  He  told  me  he  would  like  to 
let  a  vacant  room  to  some  respectable  lady,  with  board.  It  will 
be  comfortable  and  safe  and  respectable.  Don't  make  up  your 
mind  in  a  hurry  !  This  is  the  sensible  and  right  thing  to  do.  And 
now  go  back  to  the  young  lady.  I  am  going  to  smoke  another 
cigar  !" 

Darcy  turned  the  printed  side  of  the  card  to  the  light  as  he 
walked  down  the  aisle.  The  inscription  was,  "  Timothy  Skillet, 
Gold  and  Stocks,  No.  55  Wall  street,  New  York." 


CHAPTEE  XII. 
MOVING. 

ALONG  straight  street,  with  flaring  gas-lights  on  either  side. 
A  fog  brooding  over  the  city,  which  seemed  preternaturally 
quiet.  On  the  left-hand  corner  nearest  him,  Darcy  noticed  an  old 
church  with  stone  steps  and  an  iron  railing  enclosing  them.  He 
walked  over  to  examine  it  more  closely,  and  by  the  dim  light  read 
the  inscription  on  a  square  stone  set  in  the  brick  wall.  It  was  only 
the  name  of  the  sexton, "  Patrick  McGinn,"  and  his  place  of  abode. 
Darcy  wondered  at  the  strange  quiet  of  the  street,  and  suddenly 
remembered  that  it  was  past  midnight.  He  had  no  definite  pur 
pose  except  to  get  to  bed  and  rest.  The  charge  of  the  girl,  which 
he  had  so  promptly  assumed  on  the  train,  oppressed  his  mind, 
arid  he  was  revolving  a  dozen  schemes,  in  all  of  which  she  played 
an  important  part.  He  had  not  asked  her  if  she  had  any  money, 
and  had  paid  sundry  small  sums  for  her,  merely  remarking,  in 
answer  to  some  faint  expostulation,  that  they  "  would  settle  here- 


58  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

after."  The'condition  of  the  girl  was  desolate  enough,  swallowed 
up  in  the  great  city,  with  no  friend  but  himself,  and  he  poor  and 
a  stranger.  But  while  he  reflected,  there  grew  up  within  him  a 
resolute  purpose  to  find  employment  and  make  money.  "  Once 
engaged  in  some  occupation,"  he  thought,  "  the  result  is  certain. 
The  faithful  discharge  of  duty  will  bring  the  proper  reward." 

He  had  not  written  to  Tige.  He  would  do  that  before  he  slept. 
Only  a  few  lines  to  tell  of  his  arrival.  Nothing  about  the  accident 
on  the  way,  and  the  detention,  and  the  charge.  What  would 
Tige  do  if  he  knew  Helen  Euthven  was  in  New  York,  looking  for 
kindred,  of  whom  they  had  never  heard?  By-the-bye,  it  was 
strange  that  Darcy  had  never  met  her,  until  he  encountered  her 
on  the  train.  He  remembered  that  he  had  called  at  Dr.  Graves's 
house  some  months  ago,  with  a  message  from  Nell,  but  she  was 
out.  She  had  been  out  on  two  other  occasions,  when  he  called  at 
her  mother's  house.  Suppose  he  had  met  her  four  or  five  years 
ago,  when  they  were  both  comparatively  prosperous  ?  Pshaw ! 
They  were  mere  children  four  or  five  years  ago.  Very  likely  they 
would  have  fought  over  each  other's  toys. 

What  is  that  at  the  other  corner?  Something  moving  in  the 
misty  street.  With  the  prompt  decision  that  was  characteristic  of 
the  youth,  he  crossed  the  street,  and  found  a  bundle  of  old  clothes 
crawling  on  the  sidewalk.  He  could  not  see  the  crutch,  but  heard 
the  dull  thump  on  the  pavement,  as  the  creature  shuffled  along. 
As  he  drew  back  to  give  the  cripple  passage,  he  passed  into  the 
gaslight,  and  Darcy  noticed  the  old  blue  overcoat  and  cape,  and 
the  military  cap,  before  the  newcomer  disappeared  down  a  side 
street.  A  soldier,  wounded  in  the  cruel  war,  no  doubt.  Perhaps 
he  was  needy,  too.  A  dollar  from  an  old  enemy  would  get  him 
food  and  lodging.  He  would  follow  and  accost  him. 

As  he  turned  down  the  street — it  was  on  the  corner  where  the 
old  church  stood — a  man  pushed  open  the  iron  gate  and  confronted 
him,  with  arm  extended,  as  if  to  bar  his  progress,  and  Darcy 
thought  his  attitude  was  half  menacing.  The  only  remnant  of  his 
military  equipment  was  the  six-shooter  on  his  hip,  hidden  by  his 
coat.  Darcy  put  his  hand  under  the  skirt,  and  with  his  thumb 
on  the  hammer,  drew  near  the  stranger. 

"  Good  morning,"  said  the  unknown,  courteously. 

"  Good  morning,  sir,"  responded  Darcy. 

"  Will  you  excuse  me  if  I  detain  you  a  moment  ?  You  are  Mr. 
Gastou,  I  think  ?" 


MO  VINO.  69 

*  Yes,  sir,"  replied  Darcy,  trying  to  recall  the  voice. 

"  Ah  !  this  is  a  fortunate  meeting.  I  hope  your  charge  has  not 
been  troublesome."  » 

"  I  do  not  understand  you,"  stammered  Darcy,  feeling  certain 
that  he  did  understand. 

"  Indeed !"  responded  the  stranger,  pushing  his  hat  back. 
"  Well,  I  think  you  were  kind  enough  to  take  charge  of — uin ! — um ! 
— a  young  lady  on  the  train,  you  know." 

"  Yes,  I  remember,"  said  Darcy,  feeling  for  the  trigger  of  his 
pistol.  There  was  an  air  of  conscious  strength  and  a  mocking  in 
tonation  in  the  voice  of  his  interlocutor  that  irritated  the  youth. 
He  suddenly  resolved  that  he  would  not  relinquish  the  charge,  at 
least  not  just  yet. 

"I  cannot  thank  you  sufficiently,"  continued  the  stranger, 
smoothing  his  black  moustache,  with  gloved  hand,  "  but  I  can  at 
least  relieve  you.  I  left  rather  suddenly." 

"  How  did  you  escape  P  said  Darcy.  "  I  thought  you  were  cer 
tainly  killed  !  That  terrible  fall !" 

u  Ah,  yes !"  said  the  other,  quietly  ;  "  it  was  rather  an  adventure. 
But  men  like  me  are  hard  to  kill.  I  came  in  by  the  next  train. 
Where  is  she  V 

Darcy  heard  the  thump  of  the  crutch  as  the  cripple  came  round 
the  corner  and  approached  them.  He  did  not  appear  to  notice 
them,  but  halted  by,  passing  between  them.  When  he  reached 
the  lower  end  of  the  church  railing,  he  turned  and  limped  back. 
The  stranger  watched  the  lame  man  intently.  The  dull  thud  of 
the  crutch  on  the  hard  pavement  sounded  louder,  by  reason  of  the 
quiet  that  prevailed.  As  the  cripple  came  slowly  and  painfully 
towards  them,  Darcy  drew  back  to  the  church  rail,  cocking  his 
pistol  silently.  He  had  taken  it  from  his  pocket  a  moment  before, 
feeling  that  a  crisis  was  approaching. 

"The  girl!"  said  the  stranger,  imperatively.  "The  girl! 
Where  is  she,  I  say  P 

"  I  cannot  tell  you,"  answered  the  youth,  firmly.  "  Take  care 
what  you  do.  I  am  armed." 

The  lame  man  shook  out  his  defective  leg,  then  stood  upright 
and  raised  his  crutch.  Darcy  felt  a  hand  seize  his  wrist,  and  his 
weapon  was  twitched  from  his  grasp.  At  the  same  moment  he 
heard  a  prolonged  shriek,  as  he  recognized  Helen  standing  by  his 
side,  with  his  pistol  in  her  hand.  He  awoke. 

The  train  was  moving,  and  the  shriek  came  from  the  engine. 


60  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

He  gazed  confusedly  around  him.  The  passengers  were  all  talk 
ing  at  once,  and  rejoicing  in  the  prospect  of  home  and  fireside.  He 
closed  his  eyes  again,  and  the  brick  wall  of  the  old  church,  with 
the  gray  stone  inscribed  with  the  sexton's  name  ;  the  cripple  with 
uplifted  crutch,  grim  and  menacing ;  the  tall  stranger  with  black 
moustache  and  mocking  smile,  all  came  vividly  into  view.  Then 
he  turned  cautiously  to  the  girl  at  his  side,  and  saw  that  she  was 
watching  him  intently. 

"  You  have  been  dreaming,"  she  said. 

"  Yes,"  he  answered ;  "  I  thought  you  had  wrested  my  weapon 
from  me  and  were  taking  sides  with — with  my  enemy !" 

"You  called  my  name,"  she  said,  "and  I  saw  this  in  your 
hand,"  and  she  handed  his  pistol.  "  What  were  you  dreaming  f" 

"  I  thought  he  came  back  and  demanded  you." 

"  He  ?    Of  whom  are  you  speaking  f ' 

"  Listen !"  said  Darcy,  in  strong  excitement ;  "  I  will  tell  you 
now  as  coherently  as  I  can.  I  thought  I  was  in  New  York,  where 
I  have  never  been.  I  saw  the  long  street — nay,  I  see  it  still  when 
I  close  my  eyes — with  rows  of  gas  lamps  on  either  side  ;  an  old 
brick  church  on  the  corner ;  a  lame  man  brandishing  his  crutch 
over  my  head,  and — the  man  who  left  you  to-night,  and  who  fell 
over  the  brink  of  that  terrible  precipice,  standing  before  me,  de 
manding  you — you !  Some  vague  sense  of  danger  to  you  impelled 
me  to  refuse,  and  his  manner  grew  threatening.  Then  I  drew  my 
pistol,  and  you  suddenly  appeared  and  disarmed  me.  The  feeling 
that  most  oppressed  me  was  the  conviction  that  he  had  the  right 
to  demand  you,  and  that  you  recognized  the  right,  and,  therefore, 
aided  him  and  opposed  me.  Ah !  what  a  horrible  nightmare ! 
Perhaps,"  he  continued,  after  a  pause,  during  which  he  noticed 
the  pallor  spreading  over  her  face — "  perhaps  I  will  forget  all  this 
vision,  amid  the  busy  realities  that  are  probably  before  me ;  and, 
therefore,  I  tell  it  to  you  now,  while  the  scenes  and  events  are  ap 
parently  so  near.  I  am  ashamed  to  confess  how  deep  an  impres 
sion  it  has  made  upon  me.  Never  before  have  I  had  so  life-like  a 
dream.  I  have  stood  for  hours  in  the  midst  of  battle  noises ;  have 
heard  the  roar  of  artillery,  and  the  continuous  snapping  of  mus 
ketry.  I  have  seen  men  fall  near  me,  shot  to  death,  and  have 
been  compelled  to  stand  idly  waiting  for  some  bullet  to  find  me ; 
but  never  before  have  I  sufltered  torture  to  compare  with  the  agony 
of  this  transient  dream !" 

She  looked  at  him  while  he  spoke,  half  in  sympathy  and  half  in 
terror. 


MOVING.  61 

"Do  you  know,"  he  continued,  impetuously,  "that  while  the 
mere  legality  of  this  man's  claim  seemed  beyond  question,  in  my 
dream,  there  was  a  burning  conviction  in  my  thought  that  he  had 
obtained  the  right  by  fraud !  It  was  that  overbearing  conviction 
prompting  me  to  desperate  resistance !  I  felt  that  I  was  defying 
law  and  its  penalties,  but  I  had  no  thought  of  yielding.  How  can 
it  be  that  such  impalpable  matter  as  the  stuff  that  dreams  are 
made  of  could  excite  me  so  desperately?" 

"  No  one  can  account  for  dreams,"  she  said ;  "  you  have  been 
unusually  excited  by  the  events  of  this  day,  and " 

"  Pardon  me !"  he  answered,  interrupting  her.  "  You  are  mis. 
taken.  There  are  just  two  theories.  First :  the  dream  is  induced 
by  the  intercourse  of  other  Intelligences  with  the  human  mind.  I 
reject  that  theory.  Second :  the  dream  is  the  clearer  vision  of  real 
events  or  circumstances — clearer,  because  the  testimony  of  the 
senses  does  not  hinder  the  working  of  the  mind.  This  is  far  more 
plausible.  Therefore,  I  conclude  thus :  My  impressions,  caught 
from  such  brief  intercourse  as  I  had  with  the  lost  man,  came  upon 
my  mind  freshly,  when  all  surroundings  were  lost  in  sleep ;  and 
with  swift  intuition  I  detected  meanings,  motives,  purposes  that 
I  could  not  have  seen  in  my  waking  hours.  And  now,  hear  one 
final  word :  Should  any  such  circumstance  occur  hereafter  as  that 
I  have  seen  in  my  dream — do  not  be  startled — I  tell  you  once  for 
all  that  I  will  remember  you  are  Darcy  Ruthven's  child,  and  I  will 
die  a  thousand  deaths  before  I  will  see  you  wronged !  We  will 
never  discuss  this  matter  again,  perhaps.  By  to-morrow,  the  im 
pression  that  is  now  so  distinct,  will,  perhaps,  have  faded,  never 
to  be  recalled,  unless  some  contingency  lies  in  the  future  to  re 
awaken  it.  But  you  will  remember  what  I  have  said." 

She  sat  silent  as  the  train  sped  on.  There  was  an  air  of  weari 
ness  about  her  that  was  entirely  different  from  that  produced  by 
physical  fatigue.  She  had  reached  a  conclusion,  to  wit :  that  life 
had  for  her  nothing  but  sorrow,  bereavement,  doubt  and  anxiety. 
Nothing  kept  her  from  blank  despair  but  the  heroic  faith  of  a 
Christian  woman,  which,  in  its  normal  exercise,  more  excites  the 
wonder  and  admiration  of  angels  than  the  noblest  deeds  of  knightly 
prowess,  shown  by  the  stronger  sex. 

"  Ladies  and  gentlemen,"  said  the  conductor,  rapidly  passing 
through  the  car.  "  We  shall  be  in  New  York  at  ten  o'clock  this 
blessed  morning.  Four  hours  late  F 


62  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

CHAPTEE    XIII. 
TlGE. 

HENRY  GASTON,  ESQ.,  Attorney  at  Law,  otherwise  known 
as  Tige  Gaston,  had  an  office  in  Lexington.  He  was 
trustee  for  half  a  dozen  large  estates,  and  his  chief  professional 
revenues  were  derived  from  these  administrations.  He  was  a 
lawyer  of  rare  attainments,  and  once  or  twice  in  the  year  he  had 
very  important  cases  in  charge ;  but  he  was  careless  about  fees 
and  not  greedy  of  gain,  and  these  yielded  more  reputation  than 
emolument. 

Two  days  after  his  visit  to  Miss  Euthven,  armed  with  argu 
ments  and  peremptory  messages  from  his  wife,  he  called  again. 
Miss  Euthven  had  left  Lexington.  He  asked  for  Dr.  Graves,  and 
being  ushered  into  the  study,  found  the  reverend  gentleman  writ 
ing  his  next  Sunday's  discourse. 

"  I  will  only  trespass  a  moment,  Doctor,"  he  said,  shaking  hands  j 
"  my  business  is  with  Miss  Euthven." 

"  Ah  !  she  has  gone  to  Cincinnati,"  replied  Dr.  Graves. 

"  Yes,  sir ;  so  I  inferred.  She  told  me  two  days  ago  that  Mrs. 
Crowder  had  invited  her  to  go  there." 

"  She  went  the  same  afternoon.  I  did  not  like  to  part  with  the 
child — she  is  only  nineteen,  you  know — but  she  seemed  so  eager 
to  go.  I  thought  change  of  scene  and  new  occupations  might 
divert  her  mind  and  make  her  less  sensible  of  her  recent  bereave 
ments,  so  I  had  no  heart  to  resist  her.  Your  brother  called  an 
hour  after  her  departure." 

"  I  sent  him,"  said  Tige. 

"  Another  gentleman — I  forget  his  name — from  New  York,  also 
called,"  continued  Dr.  Graves ;  "  he  came  again  in  the  evening. 
He  asked  a  number  of  questions  about  your  brother,  too.  He  had 
met  him  in  the  hall,  he  said,  and  was  struck  by  his  appearance. 
He  is  a  handsome  youth,  by  the  bye,  Mr.  Gaston." 

"  Darcy,  you  mean  ?"  replied  Tige,  absently.  "  Yes,  sir.  He  is 
like  Father  in  his  young  days,  I  am  told.  What  did  the  New 
York  man  want  ?" 

"  Miss  Euthven.  Some  legal  business.  He  took  memoranda 
of  the  deaths  of  her  parents,  getting  dates  and  circumstances.  In 
fact,  he  got  a  formal  statement  from  me,  and  brought  a  notary  to 
take  my  statement  down.  The  sum  of  the  matter  was  to  show 
that  Helen  was  the  sole  representative  of  her  father's  family." 


TIQE.  63 

"  Ah !  indeed,"  said  Tige,  getting  interested ;  "  did  he  get  her 
present  address  ?" 

"  Oh  !  yes.  Mr.  Thomas  Crowder,  10  Eiver  street,  Cincinnati. 
He  went  there  to-day." 

"  And  I  will  go  to-morrow,"  said  Tige,  rising.  "  There  may  be 
some  Kentucky  laws  in  the  way,  which  this  New  York  gentle 
man  will  not  understand." 

But  Tige  did  not  go  the  next  day.  A  poor  client  had  an  im 
portant  "  case  in  court,"  and  Mr.  Gaston  could  not  leave  it.  When 
this  was  brought  to  a  triumphant  conclusion,  Mrs.  Gaston  was 
ailing,  and  Tige  could  not  leave  her.  Then  his  own  case  came  on 
— u  Gaston  versus  Philips" — and  this  consumed  some  weeks. 
Then  Darcy  suddenly  determined  to  seek  his  fortune  in  New 
York,  and  Tige  went  with  him  as  far  as  Cincinnati,  and  so  got 
the  opportunity  to  seek  Miss  Euthven. 

At  No.  10  Eiver  street  he  found  Mrs.  Crowder.  Likewise,  Mr. 
Thomas  Crowder,  who  does  not  occupy  a  very  important  place  in 
this  history,  and  whose  chief  occupation  was  pork  packing.  Like 
wise,  Miss  Jane  Crowder,  aged  sixteen,  who  was  deeply  pious, 
like  her  mother.  After  the  usual  exchange  of  greetings  and  such 
a  settlement  of  the  weather  as  would  have  been  invaluable  to  Old 
Probabilities,  Mr.  Gaston  asked  for  Miss  Euthven. 

"  Ah  !"  said  Mrs.  Crowder,  with  a  sniff  of  pious  resignation,  "  I 
am  sorry  to  say  Miss  Euthven  has  left  us." 

"  Without  notice,  and  giving  no  address,"  added  Mr.  Crowder. 

"  And  without  her  last  quarter's  wages,"  said  Miss  Jane. 

"  The  quarter  is  not  out  yet,  my  dear,"  observed  Mrs.  Crowder, 
"but  I  should  not  have  refused  payment  for  so  much  as  she 
earned.  She  left  yesterday,  and  I  suppose  she  has  gone  back  to 
Lexington.  It  is  a  very  serious  inconvenience  to  me,  as  the 
children  are  quite  backward  in  their  studies,  and  were  getting 
along  nicely." 

"  Perhaps  she  will  return,"  suggested  Mr.  Gaston. 

11  Oh,  no  !"  replied  Mrs.  Crowder,  decidedly  ;  "  she  told  me  she 
was  dissatisfied,  and  desired  to  make  a  change.  To  be  candid 
with  you,  Mr.  Gaston,  I  must  say,  her  conduct  has  not  entirely 
pleased  me,  of  late." 

"  Her  conduct f  "  said  Tige. 

"  Yes.  You  must  know,"  she  continued,  with  a  gush  of  con 
fidence,  "  a  gentleman  from  New  York — a  Mr.  Grey — has  been 
visiting  here,  and  the  poor  girl  was  evidently  infatuated.  He  is 
quite  handsome,  and  immensely  rich." 


«4  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

"  Did  he  pay  any  special  attention  to  Helen  ?"  said  Tige,  begin 
ning  to  get  angry. 

"  Oh,  no !"  replied  Miss  Jane.  "  He  talked  to  her  sometimes, 
of  course.  But  she  always  managed  to  get  near  him  and  waylay 
him  in  coming  from  church,  and  walk  home  with  him.  And  he 
talked  to  her  in  French  a  great  deal,  to  improve  her  accent,  he 
said.  It  was  very  kind  of  him,  too.  Only  night  before  last  they 
jabbered  French  here  a  full  hour,  and  yesterday  she  told  Mamma 
she  was  going." 

Tige  kept  his  temper  down.  He  had  a  "  case,"  and  was  about 
to  put  these  witnesses  under  cross-examination. 

"  Why  did  you  not  expostulate  with  the  girl,  Mrs.  Crowder  ?" 
he  said ;  "  you  have  experience  and  age  on  your  side,  and  might 
have  prevented " 

"  Mamma  expostulated  enough,  Mr.  Gaston !"  said  Miss  Jane, 
viciously;  "  she  told  her  she  would  not  have  any  such  conduct  in 
her  house.  You  ought  to  have  seen  Miss  Helen !  she  answered 
Mamma  as  if  she  owned  Cincinnati !" 

"  Hush,  Jane !"  interposed  her  mother. 

,  "  Well  she  did,  Mamma !"  answered  the  young  lady ;  "  she  as 
good  as  called  you  a  Yankee  !  and  she  said  she  could  get  better 
wages  for  working  on  the  sewing  machine  than  you  paid !" 

"  Do  hush,  child,"  said  Mrs.  Crowder,  impatiently  ;  "  Miss  Euth- 
ven  was  your  governess.  You  should  not  speak  of  her  as  a  sew 
ing-girl.  And  she  behaved  herself  with  perfect  propriety  until 
she  became  infatuated.  Mr.  Grey  is  deeply  grieved,  too  !" 

"Have  you  seen  Mr.  Grey  since  Helen's  departure?"  asked 
Gaston. 

"  Oh  yes !  he  was  here  an  hour  after  she  left  us.  Jane  told  him 
she  had  gone." 

"  And  where  is  he  now  ?"  said  Tige. 

"  Gone  to  Chicago.  He  is  a  great  friend  of  Professor  Hang " 

"Professor  Hang?"  said  Tige,  aghast. 

"  Yes.  You  certainly  know  him.  He  has  published  a  delight 
ful  book.  There  it  is  on  the  centre  table.  It  is  called  Lies  for  To 
morrow.  You  may  take  it  and  look  over  it." 

"  I  don't  think  I  will  have  time  to  read  it  to-day,"  said  Gaston, 
rejecting  the  offered  volume.  "  Can  you  describe  Mr.  Grey  to  me  ? 
I  should  like  to  know  him,  if — if  I  should  happen  to  meet  him." 

"  Jane,  get  your  album.  He  gave  his  photograph  to  Jane  sev 
eral  weeks  ago.  Ah,  here  it  is.  Very  handsome,  I  think." 

Tige  examined   the  picture  carefully.    Black  eyes,  bold  and 


TIGE.  65 

rather  insolent.  Black  moustache,  the  ends  waxed  and  sticking 
out  like  two  little  spikes.  Eather  large  nose,  slightly  aquiline. 
The  nether  lip  projecting,  giving  a  pouting  expression  to  the 
countenance.  Still,  there  was  an  air  of  conscious  strength  about 
the  face.  Bad  face,  altogether,  Tige  thought. 

"  This  picture  is  capitally  taken,"  he  observed  at  last  j  "  was  it 
done  here,  Miss  Jane  F 

"  Oh,  yes — Brixby,  in  Main  street." 

"  Brixby  ?  How  long  have  you  known  Mr.  Grey,  Mrs.  Crow- 
der  F 

"  About  three  months,  or  less.  We  met  him  at  church.  He  is 
quite  serious,  though  not  a  professor.  He  seemed  very  anxious 
to  converse  on  religious  topics,  especially  with  me.  And  he  has 
spent  his  evenings  here,  generally.  He  has  enjoyed  Professor 
Hang's  book  immensely  !  I  mean  the  Lies." 

"  Well,"  said  Tige,  putting  his  glove  on ;  "  if  I  address  Mr.  Grey 
in  care  of  Professor  Hang by  the  bye,  what  does  he  profess  F 

"  Professor  Hang?    Oh,  he  is  a  minister,"  said  Mrs.  Crowder. 

"Yes,  ma'am,  I  understand.  But  does  he  profess  anything  be 
sides  the  l  Lies  for  To-morrow?"' 

"Of  course  !"  replied  Mrs.  Crowder.  "I  suppose  he  was  Profes 
sor  in  some  Seminary.  You  really  must  read  the  book.  Must  you 
go  !  I  heard  you  had  lost  the  Philips  suit." 

"  Yes,  I'm  thankful  to  say,  I  did.  It  was  Darcy's  case,  not 
mine." 

"  I  always  hoped  Darcy  would  turn  his  attention  to  the  minis 
try,"  observed  Mrs.  Crowder,  as  Tige  moved  to  the  door  j  "  he 
was  so  naturally  pious  when  he  was  a  child !  But  I  suppose  he 
will  go  into  law  F 

"  Not  he,"  answered  Mr.  Gaston.  li  Darcy  has  decided  to  try 
commercial  life.  He  is  on  his  way  to  New  York  now." 

"  And  snow  a  foot  deep  !"  said  Mr.  Crowder,  "  there  will  be 
some  terrible  accident  in  to-morrow's  paper.  "  Did  he  go  by  the 
lower  route  F 

"  Yes,"  answered  Tige,  startled  j  "  why  do  you  ask  F 

"  Ah !  that  road  was  cut  up  so  often  by  both  armies  !  It  is  in 
a  dreadful  condition "  I 

"  But  he  was  going  by  the  North  Penn.,  I  remember,"  said  Mr. 
Gaston.  "  I  cannot  tell  where  he  changed — Pittsburg,  probably." 

"Ah,  that  is  worse  I  Track  good  enough,  but  a  bad  Hue  for 
snow-drifts.  Well,  a  day  or  two  will  tell.  Good  morning  !" 

5 


66  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

"  This  is  a  nice  business,"  said  Tige,  as  he  strode  down  towards 
Main  street.  "  What  will  that  boy  do  if  anything  happens  to  his 
train !  Confound  old  Crowder !  He  never  speaks  except  to  say 
something  disagreeable — Hillo !  here  is  Brixby's  sign.  I'll  look 
at  his  pictures." 

Mr.  Brixby  was  idle  that  morning.  Tige  was  hard  to  please  in 
styles.  He  was  going  to  take  his  carte  home,  as  a  present  for 
Nell.  So  he  turned  over  the  great  mass  of  pictures  in  Mr.  Brixby's 
case.  At  last  he  selected  one. 

"  Do  you  sell  these  P  he  asked. 

"  Not  usually.  You  can  have  that  one,  though,  if  you  like. 
Stay !  there  is  a  companion  picture — a  young  lady, 
deuce  is  it  ?  Oh  !  here  it  is.  I  took  'em  together, 
a  dollar.  Will  you  be  taken  now  f  Walk  in.  I'll  be  ready  in  five 
minutes." 

Tige  placed  the  two  cards  in  his  pocket-book,  and  then  sat  in 
moody  silence  while  Mr.  Brixby  "  took  him."  Pictures  would  be 
ready  in  the  afternoon.  Would  send  them  to  the  hotel — at  five 
punctually.  Very  fine  picture.  He  sat  like  a  statue.  Five  dol 
lars.  Thanks ! 

Nell  looked  through  the  package  of  photographs  a  day  or  two 
afterwards,  when  Tige  was  not  with  her.  A  good  fire  was  blaz 
ing  on  the  hearth,  and  Mrs.  Gaston  placed  the  package  in  the 
warmest  part  of  it. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 
A  LETTER. 

"  NEW  YORK,  I5tk  December,  186-. 

66  ~ii  J~Y  DEAR  BROTHER  AND  SISTER:  One  whole  day  gone 
-1A-JL  since  I  arrived,  and  now  it  is  near  midnight.  But  I  am 
wide  awake,  and  have  so  many  things  to  tell,  that  I  cannot  post 
pone  my  present  pleasant  duty.  I  have  wished  for  you  a  hundred 
times,  brother,  since  we  parted.  You  have  erred  in  teaching  me 
to  rely  upon  you  so  entirely.  Don't  you  remember  Looney,  your' 
Celtic  client,  who  said  his  father  had  '  trated  him  with  mistaken 
kindness  when  he  kicked  him  out  o'  doors  one  fine  inornin',  and 
compelled  him  to  depind  upon  his  own  resources.'  I  have 


A  LETTER.  67 

thought  of  him  several  times  in  the  past  three  days.  And  you 
too,  sister,  have  done  your  i  level  best,'  as  they  say  here,  to  spoil 
me.  Positively,  I  am  at  a  loss  to  decide,  at  times,  what  to  eat, 
when  I  am  iu  the  midst  of  edibles. 

"  But  while  I  am  seated  up  here  in  my  little  room,  with  a  bright 
gas  burner  over  the  table,  and  all  the  house  quiet,  I  am  momently 
getting  nearer  to  you,  dear  friends,  dear  brother,  dear  sister. 
And  it  seems  to  me  that  we  three  are  more  closely  bound  together 
than  any  other  three  on  the  face  of  the  earth.  Sister  Nell,  if  you 
will  write  me  word  that  you  are  not  anxious  about  me,  but  are 
satisfied  and  hopeful,  I  will  promise  to  send  you  a  camel's  hair 
shawl  about  a  year  hence. 

"  Because  I  am  in  business.  What  do  you  think  of  that, 
brother  Tige  ? 

"  It  all  came  about  thus :  On  the  second  night  out,  that  is,  last 
night,  we  were  detained  by  snow-drifts.  A  passenger,  Mr. 
Skillet,  invited  me  to  join  him,  and  thus  'form  a  committee'  to 
wait  upon  the  conductor.  I  went,  more  from  curiosity  than  any 
other  motive,  and  the  result  of  our  conference  with  the  conductor- 
was  to  get  a  messenger  sent  back  to  Scrabbletown  for  assistance. 
Just  before  he  left,  a  gentleman  came  forward  and  said  he  would 
go  also,  and  he  requested  me  to  inform  a  lady,  then  asleep,  why 
he  had  left  her,  and  to  promise  his  speedy  return.  He  did  not 
return,  brother.  The  brakesman  came  back  in  two  hours,  with  a 
horrid  story  of  a  bald  precipice,  a  slippery  path,  and  the  sudden 
disappearance  of  his  companion  over  the  brink. 

"  I  had  to  communicate  this  dismal  intelligence  to  the  lady,  who 
was  coming  here  in  search  of  kindred,  I  believe.  Mr.  Skillet, 
who  was  very  kind,  aided  me  greatly,  and  he  and  I  took  her  to  a 
quiet  boarding-house,  where  she  now  is.  In  a  few  days  we  shall 
learn  something  more  definite  about  her  relations.  At  present 
she  is  not  able  to  get  the  luggage,  as  the  lost  man  had  the  checks 
in  his  pocket,  and  she  had  only  a  small  satchel  with  her.  I  sup 
pose  when  the  trunks  are  delivered  (Mr.  Skillet  is  looking  after 
them),  there  will  be  some  address  found,  and  my  little  adventure 
will  end  with  the  discovery  of  her  kindred.  She  calls  herself  Miss 
Harding. 

"  Mr.  Skillet  is  in  communication  with  the  railway  authorities, 
and  will  have  some  positive  information  from  the  scene  of  the  ac 
cident  to-morrow.  The  telegraph  wires  were  down  to-day,  but 
we  are  assured  that  all  will  be  repaired  to-morrow. 


68  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

"  Sister  Nell,  you  have  always  said  I  was  superstitious.  I  have 
been  dreaming  about  that  lost  man,  and  now  that  I  am  broad 
awake,  cannot  see  what  my  dream  portends.  The  man  was  my 
enemy.  And  there  is  upon  my  mind  a  constant  conviction  that  I 
shall  encounter  him  or  his  ghost  hereafter,  and  try  conclusions 
with  him — or  it. 

11  How  can  I  tell  you  coherently  about  this  man  ?  When  he 
spoke  to  me  the  other  night,  I  recoiled  from  him.  He  was  a 
stranger  to  me,  of  course,  yet  I  felt  sure  that  I  had  met  him  some 
where.  I  remember  in  that  short  conflict,  hand  to  hand,  before 
I  was  taken  prisoner,  that  I  noticed  the  expression  in  the  faces  of 
the  men  who  were  chopping  at  me  with  their  sabres,  and  at  first 
I  thought  I  had  encountered  him  there.  But  I  was  mistaken. 
They  were  all  avowed  enemies.  But  he,  with  his  treacherous, 
smooth  face ;  his  black,  bold  eyes ;  his  sleek,  black  moustache, 
waxed  at  the  ends  a  la  Napoleon  JJJ,  nicely  fitting  kid  gloves, 
and  a  tout  ensemble  indicative  of  cold-blooded  badness,  is  totally 
different  from  the  men  I  met  in  the  heat  of  battle.  Moreover, 
against  these  I  harbour  no  thought  of  enmity,  while  towards  this 
man  I  feel  positive  dislike  that  would  ripen  into  deadly  hostility 
if  he  were  alive. 

"  For  he  is  certainly  dead.  He  fell  five  hundred  feet,  and  en 
countered  a  dozen  deaths  before  he  reached  the  base  of  the  cliff. 
The  conductor  told  me  there  was  not  a  spot  on  the  line  of  his 
road  where  so  fatal  a  precipice  as  this  could  be  found.  It  is  an 
old  quarry,  consisting  of  a  succession  of  narrow  ledges,  beginning 
at  the  river  bank,  and  running  across  the  face  of  the  hill  about 
half  way  up.  I  expect  to  identify,  or  try  to  identify,  his  shattered 
body  to-morrow  or  the  next  day. 

"  Mr.  Skillet  is  from  the  Hub  of  the  Universe.  My  knowledge 
of  geography  has  been  gathered  from  books  that  are  no  longer 
trustworthy.  I  have  had  a  vague  idea  that  this  city  was  slightly 
larger  and  richer  than  any  other  American  city,  but  this  is  a  mis 
take.  Boston  is  larger  every  way.  You  cannot  lose  yourself 
readily  in  New  York,  but  in  Boston  you  can  get  hopelessly  lost, 
by  turning  any  corner  you  please.  Mr.  Skillet  tells  me  a  New 
Yorker  laid  a  wager  that  he  could  find  his  way  unassisted  from 
the  old  State  House  to  his  hotel,  the  Tremont,  I  believe.  Well,  he 
started,  turning  his  back  upon  the  State  House,  and  after  walking- 
two  days  and  nights,  turning  no  corners,  he  found  himself,  on  the 
third  day,  facing  the  State  House  again.  It  is  a  great  city. 


A  LETTER.  69 

Seriously,  if  you  make  allowance  for  this  harmless  vanity,  Mr. 
Skillet  is  one  of  the  best  men  I  have  ever  met.  He  affects  a 
certain  roughness  of  manner,  but  he  is  kind  and  considerate. 
He  recommended  the  boarding-house  to  Miss  Harding,  and  when 
we  arrived  this  morning  (or  rather  yesterday  morning,  as  I  just 
heard  twelve  sounded  from  a  neighbouring  steeple) — he  took  us  in 
his  carriage,  which  was  waiting  at  the  ferry,  drove  up  to  Camden 
street  where  Mrs.  Camp  lives,  and  where  Miss  Harding  is  ;  thence 
to  Delmonico's,  where  we  had  breakfast,  and  while  we  were  dis 
cussing  that  meal,  he  engaged  me  at  a  salary  of  eight  hundred 
dollars,  and  you  will  please  address  me  as  indicated  by  the  card  I 
enclose. 

"You  will  desire  to  know,  Brother  Tige,  what  my  duties  are,  and 
I  will  recount  my  conversation  with  Mr.  Skillet. 

"  I'd  like  to  know  what  business  you  have  in  liPYauk  V  he 
began,  over  his  second  cup  of  coffee. 

"  My  business,  sir,  is  to  look  for  business,"  I  answered. 

"  Urn  !  Ah !"  he  said.    "  What  do  you  know  ?" 

"  Latin  and  Greek  and  mathematics." 

"  Very  fine  things  !"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  coolly.  "  But  there  ain't 
no  shop  as  I  knows  on,  in  N'Yauk,  where  they  are  specialties ;  do 
you  know  how  to  keep  books,  for  instance  f" 

"  Yes,  sir  j  that  is,  I  know  the  general  principles  of  the  science." 

"  And  what  will  you  do  while  you  are  learnin'  how  to  apply 
your  principles  ?" 

"  Any  sort  of  work  I  can  get.  I  intend  to  look  for  work,  while 
my  money  lasts,  every  day.  I  thought  I  would  go  into  all  the 
offices  in  a  certain  street  and  ask  for  employment '' 

"  Got  any  references  ?"  said  Mr.  Skillet. 

»  No — yes ;  I  can  refer  to  Judge  Hammond." 

"  Does  he  live  in  N'Yauk  F 

"  No,  sir,  in  Lexington." 

"  Wa-al,  people  ain't  got  time  to  write  to  Lexington  for  refer 
ences,  and  if  they  had,  they  don't  know  Judge  Hammond  from  a 
side  of  sole  leather !" 

"  I  never  thought  of  references,"  said  I,  dismayed. 

"  I  s'pose  not !  Young  men  from  Kentucky  mostly  don't  think 
of  references ;  but  they  du  think  N'Yauk  was  built  for  them,  and 
they  have  only  to  offer  themselves  on  Broadway  or  Wall  street  to 
make  all  the  merchants  and  bankers  cut  one  another's  throats  to 
git  the  first  chance  at  them  P 


70  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

"  You  don't  encourage  me  much,  sir,"  said  I. 

"  I  s'pose  not !  That  ain't  in  my  line.  I  have  a  boy  in  my  office 
who  gets  three  dollars  a  week ;  he  knows  where  the  post-office  is 
— where  every  bank  in  the  city  is — where  all  my  customers  are. 
He  can't  do  any  Latin  or  Greek  or  mathematics,  but  he  can  carry 
a  straight  message  and  bring  back  a  straight  answer.  Have 
another  chop  f 

"  Thank  you,  no,"  I  said,  pushing  my  plate  back.  "  I  am  glad 
I  had  my  breakfast  before  we  began  this  business  talk,  as  my 
appetite  would  not  have  been  so  vigourous  otherwise." 

Mr.  Skillet  laughed  uproariously.  He  seemed  to  think  my  dis 
comfiture  the  best  joke  of  the  season. 

"  Sorter  took  the  starch  outen  you  ?"  he  said  at  last.  "  Wa-al, 
it  won't  do  you  any  harm.  And  now  I'll  offer  an  amendment. 
S'pose  you  come  into  my  office — say  for  a  month — and  see  what 
you  can  do  f 

"  But  I  have  no  references,"  said  I. 

. "  Oh  wa-al,  we'll  write  for  'em  later.   I'll  give  you — let  me  see ! 
— say  eight  hundred  dollars  a  year." 

"  I  am  very  grateful,  Mr.  Skillet,"  I  answered ;  "  I  will  serve 
you  as  well  as  I  can,  and  I  don't  want  any  salary  until  I  learn  to 
be  useful — find  out  the  location  of  banks  and  offices " 

"  All  right,  Mr.  Gaston ;  I'll  git  the  amount  of  your  salary  out 
of  you,  never  fear." 

"  What  will  my  duties  be,  sir  ?"  I  asked,  doubtfully. 

"To  du  things — I  can't  tell  till  the  occasion  arises.  Eight 
o'clock  in  the  morniu' ;  quit  at  five.  Camp  will  put  you  through 
a  course  of  sprouts,  I  guess !  When  '11  you  begin  f 

"  Immediately,  if  you  will  allow  me." 

"  All  right !  That's  the  grit !"  He  took  out  his  pocket-book, 
selected  a  card,  and  wrote  on  the  back : 

"  Mr.  Camp.  Set  Mr.  Gaston  to  work.  Get  more  margin  from 
Spriggins.  Yours,  T.  S." 

"  There !"  he  said.  "  Go  in  and  win !  You  can't  swear  to  a 
man  until  you've  summer'd  him  and  winter'd  him,  but  I  guess 
you'll  du.  Don't  be  skeart.  Talk  like  thunder  to  people,  and  say 
nauthin'  all  the  time.  Keep  your  mouth  shet,  as  a  general  rule, 
but  when  you  must  talk,  don't  let  the  other  fellow  find  out  any 
thing  you  know.  If  I  don't  have  to  raise  you  to  fifteen  hundred  a 
year  hence,  I'm  mistaken  in  you,  that's  all !  And  now  go  'bout 
your  business,  please!  Tell  Camp  to  send  my  letters  to  the 
heouse !" 


AT  WORK  71 

"  That  is  all,  Brother  Tige.  I  have  been  working  all  day,  and 
have  become  acquainted  with  multitudes  of  'ropes'  about  the 
office.  Chiefly,  my  work  will  consist  of  examinations  of  accounts, 
and  I  have  learned  numberless  technicalities  already.  Mr.  Camp 
is  splendid !  But  I  will  reserve  him  for  my  next  letter,  only  say 
ing,  that  he  was  kind  as  possible,  and  when  I  asked  his  advice 
about  getting  lodgings,  he  offered  me  this  comfortable  little  hall 
bedroom  in  his  house,  charging  me  three  dollars  a  week.  I  get 
my  meals  at  restaurants,  and  feel  wonderfully  elated  at  my  suc 
cess.  Thankful  also,  dear  sister  Nell ! 

Your  loving  brother,      .        DAECY." 


CHAPTEE  XV. 
AT  WORK. 

ON  the  day  following  Helen's  arrival  in  New  York,  Mr.  Skillet 
called  at  No.  96  Camden  street,  and  asked  for  Miss  Harding. 
When  she  came  into  the  little  parlour  she  saw  a  well  dressed,  mid 
dle  aged  gentleman,  with  blue  eyes  full  of  kindness,  and  an 
expression  of  straightforward  honesty  that  was  reassuring.  On 
his  part,  he  saw  a  tall,  slender  girl,  in  a  plain  black  dress,  rather 
pretty,  and  if  her  sad,  grey  eyes  could  be  lighted  up  with  smiles, 
he  thought  she  would  "  make  any  young  fellow's  heart  bounce." 
But  instead  of  smiles  she  wore  a  careworn  expression,  modified  by 
an  air  of  resignation,  or  rather  unmurmuring  submission,  that  had 
grown  habitual  through  dismal  experiences. 

11  Fine  morning — cold ! "  said  Mr.  Skillet,  when  Helen  was 
seated. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Have  you  been  out  to-day  ?" 

"  No,  sir." 

"  Ah !  wa-al.  You  hadn't  ought  to  set  about  the  heouse.  You 
might  walk  down  two  blocks,  and  git  in  the  cars.  It'll  do  you 
good." 

"  I  don't  know  the  city,"  said  Helen. 

"  Wa-al,  you'll  never  learn  while  you  set  in  the  heouse.  I've 
been  to  the  depot." 

"Yes,  sir." 


72  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

"  There's  nauthin'  there.  No  baggage.  They  want  checks.  I 
s'pose  we  can  make  'em  show  their  hands,  by  law.  Could  you  tell 
me  the  color  of  the  trunk?" 

"  I  could  not,  sir." 

"There  is  nauthin'  from  the  road,  neither,"  continued  Mr. 
Skillet.  "  No  body  found,  nor  nauthin'.  The  superintendent  says 
there  never  will  be  any  body  found !" 

Helen  was  silent.    Mr.  Skillet  looked  puzzled. 

"  You  see,  Miss  Harding,"  he  observed,  after  a  little  pause,  "  I 
hardly  know  how  to  talk  to  you  on  this  subject.  I've  forgot  what 
relation  you  said  he  was." 

"  I  did  not  say  anything  about  it,  sir,"  replied  Helen. 

"  Exactly !"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  not  the  least  disconcerted ;  "  the 
Herald  has  a  pooty  fair  account  of  the  accident,  and  says  the 
gentleman  was  named  Mr.  Eupert  Grey." 

"  Mr.  Eupert  Grey,"  repeated  Helen. 

"  Ya-as.  It  says  he  was  connected  with  some  good  family  in 
N'Yauk,  but  had  no  family  of  his  own." 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  It  seems  to  me,"  continued  Mr.  Skillet,  "  that  you  take  the 
matter  considerable  cool.  I  was  down  to  Alexandria  a  while 
back,  and  I  seed  a  young  woman  there,  who  had  travelled  from 
Maine  just  to  git  a  body.  It  was  her  husband,  she  said,  and  she 
was  about  as  cool  as  you,  and  when  I  seed  her,  she  was  a  quar 
relling  with  the  railroad  men  about  the  freight  on  her  body." 

"Yes,  sir." 

"  She  wan't  quite  sure  of  the  body,  she  said,  kind  o'  confidential 
like,  to  me,  as  it  hadn't  any  head ;  but  she  took  it.  He  didn't  fall 
over  a  bank,  neither,  but  had  got  killed  in  a  battle.  He  was  a 
kind  o'  third  leftenant,  or  suthin'.  Anyway,  she  got  a  Gov'ment 
pass  for  her  body,  and  took  it  to  Maine.  I've  thought  since,  she 
was  considerable  cool." 

"  Mr.  Skillet,"  said  Helen,  "  I  don't  want  Mr.  Grey's  body,  if  he 
is  really  killed " 

"Killed!"  said  Mr.  Skillet. 

"  Yes.  I  am  not  sure  he  was  killed.  But,  dead  or  alive,  I  hope 
and  pray  that  I  may  never  see  him  again !  I  cannot  tell  you  any 
more,  because  I  do  not  know  that  he  is  dead.  If  his  body  is  found 
and  identified,  I  will  tell  you  all  my  reasons.  You  have  been  so 
kind  to  me " 

"  It's  no  consequence,"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  starting  up.    "  I  see 


AT  WORK.  13 

that  s'uthin's  wrong.  Sorry  I  asked  you.  What  do  you  pro 
pose  P 

"  Propose  P 

"  Ya-as.    What  do  you  intend  to  do  P 

"  Oh  !  I  want  to  earn  my  living.  I  want  to  find  work.  I  can 
teach  ;  I  can  sew.  Can't  I  get  work  in  this  great  city  P 

"  Work — teach — sew  ?    They  do  sewing  by  machinery  now." 

"  Yes,  sir.    Can  I  find  work'of  that  kind  V ' 

"  Certainly.  I  know  a  place  now.  Do  you  understand  all  about 
machines  P 

-"Yes,  sir." 

"  Wa-al  !  I'll  go  with  you  when  you  are  ready.  There  is  a 
man  on  Broadway  who  makes  hoop  skirts  by  hullsale.  He  has 
forty  girls  sewing  in  the  top  lofts,  and  they  make  as  much  clatter 
as  a  iron  mill.  Should  you  like  to  try  him"?" 

"  Oh  !  Mr.  Skillet,  if  you  will  only  get  me  such  work  as  that,  I 
would  never  forget  your  kindness.  I  am  ready  to  go  when  you 
please." 

"  Git  your  hat,"  said  Mr.  Skillet. 

"  Mr.  Skillet,"  said  Helen,  as  they  walked  down  Broadway,  "  I 
have  brought  my  pocket-book  with  me ;  I  have  a  little  money, 
and  I  wish  to  pay  Mr.  Gaston  some  little  expenses.  Please  take 
my  pocket-book  and  settle  the  account." 

"  It's  all  right,"  answered  Mr.  Skillet,  "  I'll  fix  it  with  Gaston. 
It's  no  consequence.  Young  gentlemen  always  pay  these  little 
matters." 

"  But  it  is  not  all  right,"  persisted  Helen,  pressing  the  book 
into  his  reluctant  hand  ;  "  I  am  very  uncomfortable  about  it.  I 
don't  know  why  I  did  not  pay  at  the  time." 

"  Wa-al,  that's  the  true  grit.  Take  back  your  money.  I'll  pay 
him,  and  you  shall  pay  me — rto-morrow.  Did  you  know  Mr. 
Gaston — out  yonder,"  and  he  pointed  westward,  vaguely.  "I 
mean,  had  you  seen  him  before  you  met  on  the  cars?" 

"  No,  sir ;  I  never  saw  him  until  he  sat  down  by  me  that  night." 

"  Oh,  wa-al.  I  thought  mebbe  you  could  tell  me  suthiu'  about 
his  people." 

"  They  are  all  free  now,  sir." 

"Free?" 

"  Yes,  sir.    He  had  a  great  many  before  the  war." 

"  You  mean  his  slaves !    I  was  talkin'  about  his  kin." 

"  Oh  !  they  are  the  best  people  in  Kentucky." 


74  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

"  Indeed !    I  thought  you  said  you  did  not  know  him." 

"  I  had  never  met  him,  sir.  I  know  his  brother,  and  his  bro 
ther's  wife.  All  the  Gastons  are  good." 

"  Including  Dassy  ?"  said  Mr.  Skillet. 

"  Darcy.  Darcy  Euthven  Gaston.  He  was  named  for  the  best 
and  noblest  man  that  ever  lived  .!"  and  the  tears,  so  long  re 
pressed,  gushed  from  her  eyes. 

"  Dear  me !"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  thoroughly  miserable,  "  I've  gone 
and  put  my  clumsy  foot  into  it  agin !  Never  mind.  It's  no  con 
sequence.  Here  we  are!  Now  we  have  seventy-two  steps  to 
climb.  Take  your  time." 

Mr.  Tilter  was  in  his  office — five  floors  above  the  street.  He 
was  a  little,  bald  headed  man  in  spectacles.  He  wrote  with  a 
quill  pen,  and  carried  it  in  his  mouth  constantly,  when  he  was  not 
writing. 

"Mornin'!"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  panting.  "Them  steps  will  be 
the  death  o'  me,  Tilter.  This  young  lady  wants  a  job ;  she  knows 
all  about  them  clatterin'  machines.  Great  Ca3sar !  how  they  do 
clatter !" 

"  Much  obliged,  Mr.  Skillet,"  answered  Mr.  Tilter,  with  the  im 
pediment  in  his  speech.  "  We  can  find  the  work.  Wages  ?  Eight 
dollars  a  Aveek.  Eight  to  six.  One  hour  to  dinner.  Satisfac 
tory  f ' 

Helen  bowed  her  head. 

"  All  right  then ;   call  this  half  a  day.    Mr.  Donis !" 

Mr.  Donis  appeared.  He  was  a  young  man,  with  flaxen  hair 
and  moustache,  gorgeously  attired. 

"  Mr.  Donis,"  continued  Mr.  Tilter,  pointing  to  Helen,  "a  new 
hand.  Understands  the  Singers.  Show  her  in.  Begins  now. 
Call  this  half  a  day.  Eight  dollars." 

"  Yessir, "  said  Mr.  Donis.    "  This  way,  please." 

Helen  shook  hands  with  Mr.  Skillet,  and  followed  the  stunning 
youth. 

"  Tilter,  you  old  miser !"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  when  they  were  alone, 
"  eight  dollars  is  not  enough." 

"  Eegular  wages,  Mr.  Skillet !  Let's  see  what  the  young  woman 
can  do  first.  If  she  gets  along  well,  we'll  give  her  a  rise." 

"  Ten  hours  a  day,  you  old  reprobate !"  said  Mr.  Skillet. 

"  Only  nine.    One  hour  to  dinner,  you  know." 

"Wa'al!  its  no  consequence.  That's  a  slick  lookiu'  fellow 
you've  got  for  a  boss." 


AT  WORK.  75 

"Donis?  Yes.  Pooty  smart.  Takes  watching  though.  I 
think  he  likes  to  crook  his  elbow  too  much." 

While  Mr.  Skillet  retraced  the  seventy-two  steps,  Mr.  Donis 
led  Helen  into  the  work  room.  One  hundred  feet  by  twenty-five ; 
excepting  the  little  office  at  the  head  of  the  stairs.  The  roar  of 
twenty  sewing  machines,  drowning  out  all  other  sounds.  Twen 
ty  girls  bending  over  the  machines.  Two  others  over  a  silent 
machine,  with  some  complicated  appliances.  Mr.  Donis  motioned 
Helen  to  join  these  two. 

"Can  you  see  the  difficulty F  roared  Mr.  Donis  in  Helen's 
ear. 

She  took  the  chair  vacated  by  one  of  the  girls,  and  tried  the 
tension,  rearranged  some  minor  parts  of  the  machinery,  and  then 
taking  up  the  muslin,  passed  it  rapidly  through,  sewing  per 
fectly. 

"  Ah !"  said  Mr.  Donis.  "  It's  the  new  fangled  feller !  All  right, 
you'll  do !" 

Helen  worked  away  without  reply,  and  he  nudged  her  elbow. 

"  I  say !"  he  continued,  "  if  you  can  manage  the  fellers,  you  are 
all  right  you  know !  he  !  he !" 

Helen  looked  at  him  in  mute  amazement,  while  he  twisted  his 
watch-key,  smiling  graciously. 

"You  had  better  keep  this  machine,"  he  resumed;  "number 
eleven.  If  you  can  teach  one  or  two  of  these  other  girls — Here, 
Jane !  This  young  lady — beg  pardon  !  I  did  not  catch  your  name 
to  put  in  the  books  you  know." 

"  Harding,"  said  Helen,  coldly. 

"  First  name,  please  ?" 

"Mary;  but  I  am  called  Miss  Harding,  usually. 

"  Oh !  all  right.  Jane,  Miss  Harding  will  show  you  how  to 
manage  the  fellers.  He !  he  !  When  you  are  aw  fay,  you  can  take 
another  machine ;"  and  he  swaggered  grandly  out  of  the  work 
room. 

"  Dang'd  pooty  gal !"  he  muttered,  "  but  shy  as  a  kitten  in 
a  strange  garret!  Must  git  her  sociable.  She'll  come  out  all 
right." 

At  the  same  moment,  Mr.  Skillet,  striding  up  Broadway,  was 
meditating  about  Mr.  Donis.  And  his  thoughts  ran  thus : 

"  That  simperin'  young  jackass  will  put  his  foot  into  it  before 
the  week  is  eout !  He'll  say  s'uthin'  sassy  to  the  gal — and  she'll 
put  a  mansard  onto  him  quicker  'an  litenin'!" 


76  .        FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

CHAPTEE  XVI. 


ME.  SKILLET  turned  out  of  Broadway  and  walked  briskly  up 
Fifth  avenue.  Arrived  at  a  corner  house,  brown  stone  front, 
he  rang  the  bell,  and,  inquiring  for  Miss  Norman,  was  admitted. 
Miss  Norman  would  be  down  immediately.  Would  Mr.  Skillet 
take  a  seat  in  the  drawing-room  ?  While  he  waited,  he  tried  to 
remember  what  the  sallow  child  he  had  known  slightly  several 
years  ago  looked  like.  And  when  Nina  appeared  at  last,  he  found 
that  she  had  entirely  grown  out  of  his  memory.  He  must  begin 
the  acquaintance  anew. 

She  was  a  slight  girl,  with  brown  hair  and  eyes,  a  healthy  com 
plexion,  and  an  air  of  resolution  in  face  and  manner  that  modified 
the  fragile  suggestion  of  her  slender  form.  Her  black  dress  and 
quiet  manner  were  set  in  opposition  to  the  determined  expression 
of  a  woman  with  a  set  purpose,  and  Mr.  Skillet  found  himself  in 
voluntarily  preparing  to  combat  resolutions  that  might  prove 
unwise  or  impracticable.  He  had  been  frequently  consulted  by 
Nina's  grandmother,  in'  matters  relating  to  money  investments, 
and  the  girl  remembered  that  the  old  lady  had  always  spoken  of 
him  as  thoroughly  honest  and  thoroughly  sharp-witted. 

"  I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you,  Mr.  Skillet,"  said  Nina,  seat 
ing  herself  by  his  side,  "  for  answering  nay  invitation  -  " 

"  Ya-as  !"  said  Mr.  Skillet.  "  I  was  eout  in  Chicago,  and  only 
got  back  yesterday.  I  found  your  note  last  night." 

"  I  knew  grandmother  always  consulted  you,  and  I  was  anxious 
to  get  your  advice  and  help,  perhaps  —  in  the  settlement  of  the 
estate." 

"Oh!  Ah!  Ya-as!"  said  Mr.  Skillet.  "But  you  will  have  to 
git  a  lawyer  to  fix  property  things." 

"  No  ;  I  don't  want  any  lawyer  in  this  matter,"  answered  Nina, 
"  there  is  no  will,  and  the  property  will  be  divided  between  my 
sister  and  me.  I  want  certain  pieces  of  property,  which  I  will  de 
scribe  to  you,  and  I  very  much  desire  to  have  them  apportioned 
to  me  in  the  settlement." 

"  Oh,  wa-al  !  There's  no  difficulty  about  that.  You  just  git  the 
hull  property  appraised,  and  then  you  can  take  turn  about  in 
choosiu'." 

"  I  thought,"  said  Nina,  after  a  momentary  hesitation,  "  that 


NINA.  77 

it  would  be  more  equitable  to  put  up  the  separate  properties  at  a 
kind  of  auction,  and  let  us  two  bid ;  you  know,  I  might  fancy  a 
certain  piece  of  land  that  my  sister  would  choose,  if  we  had  equal 
opportunities.  But  if  the  auction  method  is  adopted,  she  who 
will  pay  the  most  can  take  it.^ 

"  Ezackly !"  said  Mr.  Skillet.  "  I  see.  I  see.  Now,  do  you 
happen  to  know  all  the  property  ?" 

"  No,  sir  5  I  only  know  there  is  one  large  parcel  that  I  must 
have." 

"  Must  have  V 

"Yes,"  said  Nina;  "it  is  very  probable  that  Mary  or  Mr. 
Bragdon  would  also  prefer  that  special  property.  I  am  quite  will 
ing  to  pay,  out  of  my  portion  of  the  estate,  something  more  than 
they  will  be  willing  to  pay." 

Mr.  Skillet  mused.  Was  the  girl  going  to  speculate  in  corner 
lots? 

"  S'pose  you  make  a  list  of  the  property — you  mean  the  real 
estate,  of  course — and  let  me  investigate  a  little  ?" 

"  Well,  sir,  when  will  you  have  the  list  ?" 

"  To-morrow.    I  will  send  my  clerk  to  see  you." 

"  Let  him  ask  for  me,  please ;  what  is  his  name  ?" 

"  Dassy,"  said  Mr.  Skillet. 

"  Dassy  I  Very  well.  I  will  see  Mr.  Dassy  to-morrow — say  at 
eleven  o'clock." 

"  Not  Dassy  neither  1"  said  Mr.  Skillet.  "  What  a  blunderin7 
old  cuss  I  am,  to  be  sure!  Dassy  is  his  given  name — Mr.  Gastou, 
I  had  ought  to  have  said." 

"  Gaston.    I  will  remember." 

"  You  had  better  tell  him  jest  what  you  want ;  he  is  true  as 
steel,  and  close  mouthed,  and  smart  as  a  trap.  I  haven't  sum 
mered  him  and  wintered  him  yet,  but  I  guess  he'll  do.  I  picked 
him  up  on  the  train  t'other  night.  Oh  !  wa'nt  Grey  a  relation  of 
yourn  ?" 

"Yes!"  said  Nina,  startled.  "What  of  him!  Tell  me  in- 
stantly !" 

"  Oh,  it's  no  consequence !"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  alarmed  by  Nina's 
vehement  manner.  "  Dassy  knows ;  you  can  put  him  through  to 
morrow.  There  was  some  story  about  his  gittin'  hurted — some 
where  out  West ;  don't  know  the  particulars,  for  certain — Dassy 
can  tell  you.  Bless  my  heart !  Twelve  o'clock !  Gold  room 
closes  at  three.  Good  mornin' !  I'll  send  Dassy — eleven,  prompt." 


78  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

"  Mr.  Skillet !"  said  Nina,  catching  his  arm  as  he  rose.  "  You 
must  tell  me  about  Mr.  Grey ;  did  you  see  him  out  West  T 

«  No." 

<4  Did  Mr.  Gaston  see  him  ?" 

"  Oh,  ya-as ;  certainly." 

"  Catft  you  tell  me  anything  about  him  ;  where  he  is,  or  what 
he  is  doing  ?" 

"  Them's  the  very  p'ints  I'm  not  posted  on,"  answered  Mr.  Skil 
let.  "  I'd  give  a  new  hundred  dollar  greenback  this  minnit  if  I 
could  git  that  information.  It's  no  consequence !  Better  see  what 
you  can  git  out  of  Dassy — good  morniu'." 

While  Mr.  Skillet  jolted  down  the  avenue,  in  the  omnibus,  he 
arranged  his  plans. 

"  I  must  caution  the  boy  to  keep  his  eyes  skun,  and  his  jaws 
shet,"  thought  he.  "  Bless  my  heart !  The  gal  is  sharp  as  litenin' ! 
Now,  it's  a  fair  tussle  between  'em,  and  I've  a  mind  to  let  the 
young  whelp  tackle  her  without  any  warnin' — no  harm  to  find  out 
what  he  thinks,  though.  Seems  to  me  that  Mr.  Grey  was  pooty 
much  of  a  devil !" 

Mr.  Darcy  Gaston  was  at  his  desk,  immersed  in  debits  and 
credits,  and  interest  calculations,  and  charges  for  commission  on 
purchases  and  sales.  It  was  a  long  account  of  "  gold  operations," 
in  which  a  highly  respectable  and  substantial  firm  on  Broadway 
had  been  "  gambolling,"  as  Mr.  Skillet  expressed  it,  for  six  months. 
This  firm  had  suddenly  discovered  that  it  was  not  profitable,  and 
Darcy  was  preparing  the  account  for  settlement.  It  was  excellent 
discipline  for  him,  but  abominably  perplexing.  Mr.  Camp,  head 
bookkeeper,  was  at  another  desk,  furtively  writing  poetry.  It  was 
the  one  amiable  weakness,  the  solitary  foil  that  served  to  set  off 
the  brightness  of  Mr.  Camp's  character.  It  is  only  just  to  add, 
that  Mr.  Camp  always  tore  up  the  poetry  into  small  fragments, 
and  scattered  it  to  the  waste-basket.  In  most  cases  there  were 
only  three  lines  and  a  half,  as  Mr.  Camp  had  a  chronic  impedi 
ment  in  rhyme  or  rhythm,  which  always  forbade  the  completion  of 
the  fourth.  In  accordance  with  the  invariable  law  of  incongru 
ities,  under  whose  inexorable  sway  poets  generally  live,  Mr. 
Camp  was  always  unhappy  in  his  selection  of  subjects,  and  more 
unhappy  in  his  treatment  of  the  subjects  when  selected.  At 
present  he  had  plagiarized  the  opening  sentence,  "  Hail,  gentle 
Spring,"  and  had  added  from  the  recesses  of  his  own  imagination, 
«  whose  balmy  breath."  The  stumbling  block  that  corrugated 


NINA.  79 

his  brow,  was  his  inability  to  think  of  any  other  rhyming  word 
than  "  death,"  which  was  objectionable,  as  he  intended  his  poem 
to  be  cheerful,  and  suggestive  of  sweet  repose  in  some  rural 
paradise,  which  he  usually  kept  in  his  mind's  eye. 

Your  city  man  who  deals  in  figures  from  morn  to  dewy  eve 
always  does  have  a  rural  paradise  in  his  mind's  eye.  If  he  can 
get  holiday  at  midsummer,  for  ten  days  or  less,  he  seeks  some 
leafy  covert,  and  is  always  discomfited  to  find  gnats  and  flies 
there  before  him.  It  is  always  hot  in  the  shade  too,  and  one  can 
not  get  ice  water  in  the  country.  The  roads  are  always  dusty, 
except  when  it  rains,  and  then  they  are  quagmires.  There  are 
pigs  and  cows  in  the  country,  and  they  have  no  "  realizing  sense" 
of  the  importance  of  city  people.  So  when  the  holiday  is  over, 
the  city  man  heaves  a  sigh  of  relief,  and  flies  back  to  counter  or 
counting-room.  There  are  arrears  of  work  to  get  up.  There  are 
odours  that  differ  from  those  of  the  country.  So  he  dreams  eleven 
months  and  two-thirds  of  some  other  rural  paradise,  where  there 
shall  be  no  cows  or  pigs,  and  next  summer  he  disenchants  himself 
again. 

" Mr.  Camp,"  said  Darcy, looking  up  from  his  work,  "when  will 
you  want  this  account  P 

"  Any  time  to-day  will  do,"  replied  the  bookkeeper,  gently ;  "  do 
you  find  a  hitch  anywhere  ?  Ask  me  without  hesitation  whenever 
you  are  stumped." 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Darcy,  "  it  is  only  this  horrid  interest." 

"  Dear  me,"  said  Mr.  Camp,  looking  over  Darcy's  shoulder  j 
"  you  have  not  been  calculating  all  that  interest,  surely  F 

"  Certainly." 

"  Why,  my  dear  sir,  here  are  the  tables.  Any  sum  at  five,  six 
and  seven  per  cent,  for  any  length  of  time.  Nobody  dreams  of 
calculating  interest  at  this  day.  It's  all  done  by  machinery.  You 
have  only  to  find  the  sum,  then  the  days,  and  here  you  have  it  to 
a  fraction. 

"  Hail,  gentle  Spring,  whose  balmy  breath — 

"  That  is — never  mind." 

"  No  use  to  be  hailing  gentle  spring,"  muttered  Darcy,  "  with 
the  thermometer  at  zero.  Here  comes  Mr.  Skillet." 

Mr.  Camp  tore  up  gentle  spring,  and  dived  into  a  big  ledger. 
Mr.  Skillet  passed  into  the  back  office,  and  divesting  himself  of 
hat  and  overcoat,  called  out : 

"  Gaston !  Won't  you  come  in  here,  please  !" 


80  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

"  Got  a  nice  job  for  you,"  he  said,  rubbing  his  hands  together. 
"  You  must  go  up  Fifth  Av'uoo  to-morrow.  Eleven  A.  M.  Miss 
Norman.  Stop!  I'll  write  the  address.  There!  I  told  her  you 
would  call  at  eleven  to-morrow.  How  much  does  Miss  Harding 
owe  you  f  She  offered  me  her  pocket-book,  and  I  said  I'd  settle 
with  you.  She's  got  a  situation." 
"  A  situation?"  said  Darcy,  aghast. 

tl  Ya-as.  She's  dyin'  for  work.  Means  to  earn  her  livin',  she 
says.  I  found  her  a  place  in  a  sowin'  shop.  Eight  dollars  a 
week.  'Taint  much,  but  she  is  mighty  glad  to  git  it.  Look  here  1 
You  must  be  shady  about  that  Grey  man.  S'uthiu'  wrong  about 
him.  It's  no  consequence.  But  I  mean  to  find  out  what  in 
thunder  it  is !" 

"  Grej  man  ?  something  wrong  ?  I  don't  understand,  Mr. 
Skillet," 

"  No,  I  s'pose  not.    I  don't  understand  myself.    But  she  flew 
at  me  when  I  said  he  hadn't  been  found.    You  saw  the  Herald 
to-day?" 
"  No,  sir." 

"  Oh !  Wa-al,  nobody  has  found  any  corpse  or  anything.  He 
slid  over  the  bluff,  or  else  that  brakesman  was  lyin',  and  there 
had  ought  to  be  some  bones  or  s'uthin'  found  below.  But  there  is 
nauthin." 

"You  are  speaking  of  the  man  who  was  lost  on  the  railway," 
said  Darcy ;  "  does  the  paper  tell  of  any  search  for  him  F 

"  Certainly.  Here  is  the  Herald.  Better  read  it  for  yourself. 
But  about  Miss  Norman.  She  wants  to  do  s'uthin'  about  property — 
more  law  than  finance.  She  hadn't  ought  to  bother  me  with  it. 
What  the  dickens  have  we  to  do  with  law  F 

"  I  am  a  law  student,  Mr.  Skillet.  Perhaps  I  know  enough  to 
do  what  you  require.  What  is  the  point  F 

"  Ah !  there's  the  rub  !  I  don't  know  exactly.  She  wants  to 
secure  certain  parts  of  an  undivided  estate.  So  !  You  know  law, 
do  you  ?  Wa-al,  it's  no  consequence.  I  guess  she  has  a  lawyer 
already.  Jest  you  go  up  there,  and  see  what  it  is.  You  had 
better  be  shady  there,  too.  What  do  you  think  of  that  sliding 
down  hill  ?  I  mean  out  on  the  railroad.  Kead  the  Herald.  Fifth 
page — second  column." 

Darcy  rapidly  ran  through  the  article.  It  was  a  tolerably  ac 
curate  account  of  the  accident,  and  concluded  with  the  announce 
ment  that  Mr.  Kupert  Grey  was  connected  with  some  of  "  our  first 
families." 


THE  MEETING  OF  THE  WORTHIES.  81 

u  Mr.  Rupert  Grey,"  said  Darcy,  as  he  laid  the  paper  aside. 
"  I'll  remember." 

"  Remember  what  ?"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  curiously. 

"  Eemember  to  avoid  the  mention  of  his  name,"  answered 
Darcy,  slowly.  "  That  is  what  you  said." 

"He  was  a  nice  man,"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  "connected  with  first 
families.  A  great  loss  if  he  is  dead,  hey  f " 

"  I  don't  know,  sir,"  replied  Darcy,  bewildered;  "  if  lie  is  dead, 
let  him  rest.  But  the  constant  thought  in  my  mind  is,  that  he  is 
alive,  watchful,  and  devilish." 


CHAPTEE  XVII. 
THE  MEETING  OF  THE  WOBTHIES. 

WHEN  Dutchy  alighted  from  the  train,  he  stood  a  few  min 
utes,  watching  the  lights  on  the  rear  platform,  that  looked 
like  two  red  eyes  glaring  at  him,  and  threatening  vengeance  for 
his  last  crime.  If  the  man  had  been  of  finer  sensibilities,  he 
would  have  felt  the  influence  of  the  dismal  portent.  But  he  was 
not  troubled  with  childish  superstitions. 

" Cuss  his  hide!"  he  said,  savagely,  "  I  did  not  knock  him  half 
hard  enough.  Wish  I  had  him  out  here !  How  it  snows !  About 
two  miles  from  Scrabbletown.  I'll  walk  back  to  the  shanty.  It's 
a  mile,  cuss  him !" 

As  he  plowed  his  way  through  the  accumulating  snow,  Dutchy 
meditated.  Man's  inhumanity  to  man,  was  the  thing  that  made 
this  angel  mourn.  The  fierce  assault  of  the  lieutenant,  with  no 
provocation  on  his  part,  hurt  his  feelings.  He  endeavoured  to  ac 
count  for  it,  upon  some  rational  grounds,  in  vain.  Zeal  for  the 
public  service  did  not  enter  into  Dutchy's  estimates  of  motives. 
There  was  no  sufficient  cause  for  the  officer's  harsh  manner. 
Dutchy  had  been  insubordinate  in  camp,  and  had  exhausted  the 
penalty.  So  that  account  was  balanced. 

"  It  was  pure  cussedness !"  he  thought ;  "  he  had  no  call  to 
rear  on  me.  S'pose  I  did  desert  I  it  didn't  cost  him  nothing.  Arid 
here  'I  was  earnin'  my  livin'  honest  and  square,  and  he  had  to 
turn  up  and  blow  !  cuss  him !" 

The  shanty  was  a  rude  structure  near  the  track,  built  of  rough 

6 


82  FLESH  AND   SPIRIT. 

boards,  to  shelter  the  workmen  who  had  been  repairing  the 
bridge  spanning  a  ravine  near  by.  There  was  a  little  stove  here^ 
and  plenty  of  fuel.  Dutchy  collected  some  splinters  and  soon  had 
a  glowing  fire.  While  he  smoked,  squatted  down  before  the  stove, 
he  concocted  various  schemes  for  the  future. 

"  Must  git  out  of  this ;  nothin'  to  do  but  git  tip  and  git.  He 
will  come  stompin'  down  the  road  to-morrow,  with  a  file  o'  men 
on  the  hunt  o'  me.  He's  got  a  blessed  sore  head,  I'm  thinkin'  too, 
but  that  will  only  make  him  madder.  Can't  go  to  Scrabbletown, 
not  much !  Can't  go  anywheres  on  this  line.  Must  cut  across 
country.  Will  start  by  daylight." 

He  stretched  himself  out  on  the  floor,  when  his  pipe  was 
finished,  and  fell  asleep.  He  dreamed  the  lieutenant  was  coming 
after  him  by  rail,  followed  by  a  brigade  of  soldiers,  and  he  heard 
the  roar  of  the  train  as  it  approached.  Then,  wakened  by  the 
noise,  he  pushed  the  door  ajar,  and,  sure  enough,  a  train  was  pass 
ing  the  shanty,  going  East.  He  watched  it  passing  down  the 
line,  and  saw  it  stop,  less  than  a  mile  below  the  shanty.  Looking 
for  him,  doubtless !  His  fire  had  gone  out,  and  he  dared  not  re 
kindle  it.  Nothing  to  do  at  present  but  watch  the  train. 

How  long  he  watched  he  could  not  tell,  but  after  a  time  he  saw 
a  light  moving  towards  him.  Some  one  coming  back  from  the 
train.  Ah !  they  knew  the  shanty  was  there,  and  were  coming 
for  him !  As  he  pushed  the  door  open  he  was  surprised  to  see  the 
depth  of  the  snow.  It  had  increased  a  foot  since  he  fell  asleep. 
But  there  was  a  snow  shovel  on  the  engine  and  the  track  was 
comparatively  free.  Leaving  the  shelter  he  darted  upon  the  track 
and  raced  away,  looking  back  once  and  again  at  the  red  light, 
which  gradually  fell  behind.  They  were  not  gaining  on  him. 

Half  a  mile  from  the  shanty  the  ground  fell  away,  and  Dutchy 
remembered  that  the  track  passed  over  high  ground,  a  little  fur 
ther  on.  He  turned  off,  plunging  through  the  deep  snow,  and  at 
last  stopped,  panting,  under  the  shelter  of  the  cliff,  far  below  the 
iron  road.  Here  was  present  safety. 

He  was  greatly  demoralized.  The  snow  swept  by  him  in  gusts, 
sometimes  being  caught  up  from  the  ground  near  him,  and  some 
times  coming  down  the  face  of  the  rock  in  fine  powder.  In  exposed 
places  the  earth  was  bare  for  a  few  short  minutes,  and  then,  as  the 
wind  came  roaring  round  the  crag,  bearing  great  clouds  of  flakes, 
a  miniature  drift  would  pile  up,  growing  into  a  little  mountain,  to 
be  levelled  and  blown  away  by  the  next  blast.  Just  below  his 


THE  MEETING  OF  THE  WORTHIES.  83 

shelter,  tbe  river  ran  by,  tossing  ice  islands  upon  its  bosom,  or 
wrecking  them  on  the  rough  bank.  Watching  the  current,  and 
wishing  for  an  ice-floe  large  enough  to  bear  his  weight,  Dutchy 
suddenly  remembered  that  he  had  noticed  a  boat  hauled  up  on 
the  shore  near  the  shanty.  If  he  could  get  that  boat  and  push 
off,  he  might  manage  to  float  or  paddle  across  to  the  other  side. 
It  was  a  terra  incognita  to  him,  but  it  would  be  out  of  the  line  of 
the  present  pursuit. 

But  that  lieutenant  would  scour  the  whole  country !  He  was 
passably  mad  before  Dutchy  struck  him,  and  he  had  always  been 
vindictive  and  morose.  Guard-house  and  log  babies  would  be 
nothing  in  comparison  with  the  new  torments  the  officer  would 
invent  if  he  caught  him.  And  if  he  got  away  at  last,  there  would 
still  remain  the  "civil"  process.  Would  he  never  know  peace 
again?  Cops  and  sogers!  Would  the  world  never  get  rid  of 
these  pests  ? 

Perhaps  he  was  threatened  with  that  stevedore  Nemesis !  Sup 
pose  the  soldiers  had  tracked  him  from  the  old  camp,  through 
Pennsylvania  into  New  York  and  finally  to  the  pier  where  he  had 
made  his  latest  "financial  arrangement1?"  Suppose,  by  some 
fiendish  ingenuity,  the  two  forces,  civil  and  military,  should  be 
brought  to  bear  against  him  at  once  *?  He  might  escape  the  for 
mer  by  crossing  State  lines.  But  the  army  regarded  no  lines, 
and  Dutchy  was  filled  with  the  common  conviction  among  soldiers, 
that  officers  were  above  all  law  and  absolute  in  authority. 

"  The  cussed  little  whelp  could  hang  me  up,  and  no  questions 
axed  !"  he  murmured,  "  and  if  he  wanted  law,  he  could  git  that 
stevedore  to  swear  my  life  away !  I  wish  there  wasn't  no  law,  no 
leftenants,  no  stevedores !  Hollo !  what's  that  1" 

The  red  lantern  swinging  to  and  fro,  as  the  man  who  carried  it 
crunched  over  the  snow.  Another  man  with  him.  Both  up  on 
the  hill  top  on  the  railway  level.  They  are  moving  slowly  and 
cautiously ;  must  lie  close  up  against  the  rock,  lest  they  should 
look  over  and  see  the  blot  his  body  made  on  the  white  snow. 

Looking  for  him  ?  of  course.  What  else  would  stop  the  train 
out  there.  No  station  within  a  dozen  miles. 

He  crawled  along  cautiously,  hidden  by  the  rock,  but  in  a  lull 
of  the  wind  he  heard  their  voices  distinctly,  and  holding  his 
breath,  he  listened. 

"The  snow  blinds  me,"  said  one,  "  and  your  lantern  makes  it 
worse.  I  can  scarcely  tell  whether  I  am  on  the  track  or  no." 


84  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

11  Keep  a  sharp  lookout,  sir  f  replied  the  other,  this  is  a  nar 
row  cut.  Once  apast  High  bend,  we  can  see  the  train.  They'll 
wait  for  us,  he !  he !" 

"  Where  is  High  bend  F  said  the  first  speaker. 

"  Eight  here.  Kock  runs  straight  down  to  the  river.  Fine  view 
in  summer  time.  Keep  close,  sir !  Track  runs  close  to  the  edge." 

They  were  overhead  now.  Dutchy  crouched  down  in  the  snow 
at  the  very  base  of  the  cliff. 

"  I  believe  I  see  the  river,  and — ah!    Help !" 

The  snow  had  piled  itself  in  great  drifts  against  the  face  of  the 
rock,  resting  on  ledges  that  traversed  the  surface  in  horizontal 
lines,  from  the  river  bank  to  the  summit.  The  masses  of  snow 
overhung  the  narrow  pathway  where  Dutchy  crouched,  and  with 
the  cry  came  the  rustling  sound  of  the  avalanche,  as  it  slipped 
from  ledge  to  ledge ;  then  a  ton  weight  of  snow,  rushing  over  and 
around  him,  striking  him  down,  and  burying  him  in  an  instant. 
If  he  had  not  been  resting  upon  a  drift,  two  or  three  feet  deep, 
which  gave  way  as  he  fell,  he  would  have  been  killed  outright. 
Then  came  a  solid  mass,  crushing  through  the  snow  that  covered 
him,  and  flattening  him  out  with  the  weight  and  shock.  And 
while  he  debated  in  his  mind  the  question  as  to  whether  he  were 
killed  or  no,  this  solid  mass  seemed  to  rear  up,  and  Dutchy 
shouted  out  in  terror.  Then  a  pair  of  gloved  hands  came  out  of 
the  mass,  grappling  him  by  the  shoulder  and  throat,  and  Dutchy 
rolled  over,  dragging  the  new  comer  out  of  the  debris  with  him. 
The  soft  hands  still  clutched  him  with  the  tenacity  of  death. 

"Lem'me  go!"  murmured  Dutchy,  half  strangled.  "Lem'me 
go,  cuss  you !  I  surrender !  Got  nary  knife,  nary  pistol.  Who 
would  guess  that  a  cussed  cop  would  come  for  a  feller  over  the 
rock !" 

The  stranger  released  the  terrified  rascal,  and  stood  apart, 
coolly  surveying  him. 

"  Air  you  goin'  back  to  the  train  ?"  said  Dutchy. 

"  We  will  consider  the  point,"  replied  the  other ;  "  what  have 
you  been  up  to  ?" 

"  Guess  you  know  well  enough,"  said  Dutchy ;  "  what  do  you 
want  me  for  F 

"  Ah  !  one  never  knows !  Here !  brush  the  snow  from  my  coat. 
Are  you  cold  f 

"  Freezin' !" 

"  Well,  take  a  drop  of  this.    Stop,  I'll  take  a  taste  myself  first. 


THE  MEETING  OF  THE  WORTHIES.  85 

Excuse  me !"  and  he  put  the  flask  to  his  mouth  and  indulged  in  a 
long  swallow.  "There!  you  may  have  the  rest;  plenty  left  to 
warm  you." 

"  You  ain't  nary  cop  !"  said  Dutchy,  as  he  returned  the  empty 
flask.  "  Cops  don't  give  away  that  sort  o'  stun0 — you're  a  cappen  P 

"  Well  f ' 

11  And  the  leftenant  sot  you  on,  cuss  him  P 

The  stranger  meditated.  He  was  shaken  and  bruised  by  his 
tumble,  and  had  escaped  instant  death  only  because  the  snow 
drifts  had  broken  his  fall  from  ledge  to  ledge,  and  because  he  had 
fallen  upon  Dutchy  at  the  bottom.  The  last  words  of  Dutchy 
recalled  some  story  he  had  heard  at  Scrabbletown,  of  a  dead  officer 
whose  body  then  lay  in  a  side  room  in  the  station.  It  would  do  no 
harm  to  connect  Dutchy  with  his  death,  tentatively. 

"  The  lieutenant  will  not  bother  you  any  more,"  he  said  j  "  he  is 
lying  cold  and  quiet  at  Scrabbletown." 

"  What  killed  him  I"  said  Dutchy,  huskily. 

11  You  mean  who  killed  him.  Well,  nobody  knows.  What  is 
your  opinion  ?" 

"  I  don't  know  nothin'  about  it.    What  did  he  say  f 

"He  did  not  indulge  in  any  conversation  after  the — accident. 
Come !  I  am  not  a  cop  j  I  am  not  an  officer.  I  shall  not  interfere 
with  you.  How  did  you  do  it — and  why  ?" 

"  I  don't  know  nothin'  about  it,"  repeated  Dutchy.  "  What  air 
you  goin'  to  do  ?  We  can't  stand  here  shiverin'  all  night." 

"  I  am  a  stranger  in  this  part  of  the  country,"  replied  the  other, 
after  a  short  pause ;  "  we  need  shelter  and  warmth  at  present. 
Where  can  we  go  f 

"  Is  anybody  lookin'  for  me,  or  anybody,  on  the  train  *?" 

"  So." 

"  Well,  there's  a  shanty  half  a  mile  off  with  a  stove  in  it ;  I  work 
on  this  road.  I  cau  make  a  fire,  and  we  can  get  thawed." 

"  And  afterwards?" 

"  I  dunno  !"  replied  Dutchy,  irresolutely. 

"  Let  us  go  to  the  shanty  first,"  said  Mr.  Grey ;  "  I  have  a  plan 
half  formed.  I  will  develope  it  as  we  smoke.  Come  on !  I  feel 
pretty  stiff  after  that  slide !  It  seems  to  me  that  I  fell  on  your 
carcase  ?" 

"Mashed  the  life  out'en  me!"  growled  Dutchy.  "What  did 
you  choke  me  for,  after  mashiii'  me  fust  f ' 

"  I  did  not  know  that  I  had  reached  bottom,"  said  Grey,  apolo- 


86  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

getically.  "Excuse  me!  I  only  caught  at  the  first  thing  my 
hands  touched.  It  was  quite  providential  that  you  were  reposing 
just  there !  Only  think  of  it !  A  foot  distant  on  either  side,  and 
you  would  not  now  be  enjoying  this  conversation  !  Nor  I,  either." 

"  Well !  you're  a  cool  one,  you  air !"  said  Dutchy. 

"  Quite  cool  j  indeed,  rather  too  cool  for  comfort.  How  far  off 
is  that  infernal  shanty  f" 

"Jist  round  the  bend.  Don't  you  want  to  catch  your  train 
agin  ?" 

"  I  believe  not.  We'll  think  about  it.  I  have  a  scheme ;  wait 
until  we  get  fire.  Any  sleeping  accommodations  at  your  shanty  ?" 

"  A  fust  rate  floor !"  said  Dutchy,  with  a  grin.  "  Never  mind  ! 
There's  plenty  o'  blocks  around.  We  can  set  up  awhile.  I've  got 
my  pipe." 

"  Pipe !"  answered  Grey,  disdainfully.  "  Partagas,  my  friend ! 
If  you  have  never  indulged  in  that  weed,  prepare  yourself  for  a 
surprise !  Ah  !  this  is  the  shanty,  is  it  ?  Accommodations  some 
what  limited.  Walk  in !" 


CHAPTER  XVHI. 
DAKCY'S  FIRST  VISIT. 

NINA  NOEMAN  knew  Mr.  Skillet's  punctuality,  and  when 
Darcy  sent  his  card  in  she  was  waiting  in  the  drawing 
room.  Darcy  was  a  thoroughbred,  and  his  demeanour  was  perfec 
tion.  This  was  the  first  thought  that  shot  through  Nina's  mind 
when  he  bowed  and  took  the  seat  she  indicated.  He  waited  a 
few  minutes  for  her  to  begin  the  conversation,  and  as  she  main 
tained  silence,  he  was  forced  to  take  the  initiative. 

"I  am  instructed  by  Mr.  Skillet  to  receive  your  commands, 
Madam,"  he  began. 

""Yes,  sir.  Mr.  Skillet  said  he  would  send  a  gentleman  this 
morning.  Did  he  tell  you  the  nature  of  the  business  f ' 

"  He  told  me  nothing,  except "  and  Darcy  paused,  remem 
bering  Mr.  Skillet's  exact  words. 

"  Except,"  said  Nina. 

"  Except  some  cautionary  suggestion,  that  was  purely  personal." 
Nina  looked  surprised,  and  a  slight  color  appeared  on  her  cheeks 


DARCTS  FIRST  VISIT.  87 

and  forehead.  "  Mr.  Skillet  perplexes  me  sometimes,"  continued 
Darcy,  "  as  I  am  not  yet  familiar  with  his  idioms.  '  But  the  sum 
of  his  caution,  as  I  understood  him,  was,  that  I  should  be  dis 
creet ' 

"  Have  you  any  objection  strong  enough  to  prevent  your  telling 
me  his  exact  language  P  said  Nina  ;  u  because  I  understand  him 
perfectly  well." 

"  He  said,"  replied  Darcy,  slowly,  "  that  I  was  coming  to  see  a 
lady  of  no  ordinary  sharpness — pardon  me,  but  I  am  giving  his 
own  words — and  therefore  it  would  be  advisable  to — to " 

"  I  am  all  attention,  sir,"  said  Nina,  mercilessly. 

"  Keep  my  eyes  open  and  my  mouth  shet !"  blurted  out  Darcy, 
"  which  lam  doing  with  a  vengeance !  Really,  Miss  Norman,  you 
have  forced  me  to  say  exactly  the  wrong  thing !" 

Nina  laughed.  Darcy  had  unconsciously  imitated  Mr.  Skillet's 
voice  and  manner,  and  had  extorted  the  first  laugh  from  Nina 
since  her  grandmother's  death. 

"  There  is  no  need  for  extraordinary  caution,  Mr. ,"  and  she 

glanced  at  the  card  which  lay  on  the  table,  "  Mr.  Gastou.  Darcy 
Euthven  Gaston !  Is  it  possible  that  this  is  your  name  P 

"  Yes,  Madam,"  answered  Darcy,  astonished  at  her  excitement. 

"  Darcy  Euthven  !"  she  continued ;  u  surely  this  is  an  uncom 
mon  name.  Are  you  a  native  of  this  State  P 

"  I  am  from  Kentucky,"  replied  Darcy,  with  a  certain  intona 
tion,  which  meant,  being  translated  into  English,  "  I  do  not  take 
on  any  airs  on  that  account,  however." 

"  Kentucky  !"  echoed  Nina,  "  and  your  kindred  are  named 
Euthveu  P 

"  No,  Madam.  Colonel  Euthven  was  my  father's  law  partner 
and  friend,  and  I  am  named  for  him." 

"  And  not  related  P 

"  Not  related,"  and  Darcy  suddenly  remembered  Mr.  Skillet's 
caution.  Perhaps  this  very  topic  was  one  that  he  should  avoid. 

"  And  can  you  tell  me  anything  about  the  Euthvens  P  said 
Nina. 

.  "  Very  little.  I  saw  Colonel  Euthven  only  once  since  my  boy 
hood,  and  then — I  had  no  conversation  with  him." 

"  Where  was  it  P  said  Nina,  imperatively. 

"  In  Kentucky,  Madam;" 

"  Yes.    So  I  suppose.    What  part  of  Kentucky  f  if  you  please." 

"  Near  the  Tennessee  line.    I  ana  not  sure  of  the  county." 


88  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

u  What  was  he  doing  when  you  saw  him  ?  Excuse  me,  but  I 
have  particular  reasons  for  all  my  questions.  Do  not  answer  any 
that  are  improper." 

u  He  was  riding  at  the  head  of  his  regiment,  and  about  to 
attack  a  redoubt.  I  have  not  seen  him  since." 

u  Were  you  in  the  same  regiment  ?"  persisted  Nina. 

"  No.  I  was  in  the  cavalry.  I  was  taken  prisoner  half  an  hour 
later,  and  though  we  won  that  fight,  I  was  carried  away  in  the 
retreat." 

Miss  Norman  had  always  cherished  the  conviction  that  rebels 
were  children  of  the  devil.  She  was  accustomed  to  think  of  them 
as  truculent  savages  in'  red  flannel  shirts,  long  knives  in  their 
belts,  and  bearded  like  the  pard.  There  was  in  her  inind  a  min 
gled  sentiment  of  horror  and  wonder  when  she  reflected  upon  the 
desperate  stand  they  had  maintained  through  four  years  of  war 
fare.  And  she  looked  at  the  smooth  face  of  the  youth  before  her 
with  an  astonishment  that  she  did  not  attempt  to  conceal. 

*  May  I  ask  how  it  happens  that  you  are  free  now  ?"  she  said 
after  a  short  silence.  "  Excuse  me,  if  I  should  not  ask ;  but  I  have 
never  seen  a  rebel  before,  and  you  do  not  look  like  my  conception 
of  them." 

Darcy  laughed.  Something  like  the  reality  of  her  conceptions 
dawned  upon  his  mind. 

"  I  was  sick,  Madam,"  he  answered,  "  and  the  doctor  said  I 
would  die  in  the  prison.  My  brother  obtained  my  release,  upon 
my  promise  to  take  up  arms  against  the  Government  no  more.  I 
was  only  eighteen,  and  when  he  bade  me  take  the  pledge,  I  was 
forced  to  obey." 

"  Your  brother  ?" 

"  Yes.  He  is  the  head  of  my  house,  the  representative  of  my 
Father,  and  I  could  not  disobey  him.  He  is  loyal,  as  you  call  it." 

"  And  yet  you  entered  the  army  with  his  consent "?" 

u  Oh,  no  1  I  ran  away  from  college.  He  did  not  know  I  was  in 
the  army  until  I  wrote  to  him  from  prison.  Pardon  me  !  But  you 
cannot  be  interested  in  such  matters,  and  I  am  neglecting  my 
duties.  How  can  I  serve  you,  Madam  F 

"  One  more  word,  please,"  said  Nina ;  "  what  have  you  done 
since  your  release !" 

"  Studied  law." 

Nina  arose,  and  with  a  word  of  apology,  left  the  room.  She 
returned  in  a  few  minutes,  accompanied  by  Miss  Abby  Keith. 


DAECETS  FIRST  VISIT.  89 

" My  friend,  Miss  Keitli,  Mr.  Gaston,"  she  said.  "Take  a  seat, 
Miss  Abby.  I  have  brought  you  down  to  introduce  you  to  an 
actual  rebel.  Mr.  Gaston  has  been  in  arms  against  the  Govern 
ment!" 

Miss  Abby  looked  at  the  young  stranger,  her  countenance 
expressive  of  pious  horror. 

"  Do  not  look  aghast,  Miss  Keith,"  said  Darcy  ;  "  I  was  only  a 
short  time  a  soldier,  and  did  not  kill  anybody,  though  several  fel 
lows  tried  to  kill  me." 

"  I  suppose,"  said  Miss  Abby,  "  that  rebellion  is  a  pardonable 
sin.  But  there  should  be  a  very  hearty  repentance  first." 

"  Well,  I  have  not  had  time  to  do  much  repenting,"  answered 
Darcy,  stoutly.  "  But  I  have  promised  to  rebel  no  more,  and  I 
will  keep  my  word." 

"  Rebellion,"  said  Miss  Abby,  quoting  Dragger  feloniously,  il  is 
a  sin  that  is  akin  to  witchcraft.  Such  is  the  testimony  of  Scripture. 
But  the  gravamen  of  the  offence  consists  less  in  its  defiance  of 
Divine  authority  than  in  its  contradiction  of  the  civilization  of 
the  nineteenth  century.  In  this  age,  when  humanity  is  emerging 
from  the  tyranny  of  creeds  and  confessions,  and  when  the  mental 
and  moral  development  of  the  race  is  so  rapidly  progressing,  a 
warfare  that  is  avowedly  waged  for  the  perpetuation  of  a  bar 
barous  institution,  is  a  high  crime  against  humanity.  No  excuse 
can  palliate  the  turpitude  of  the  crime.  The  age  demands  obe 
dience  to  its  sentiment.  The  crowning  virtue  of  the  age  is  Love  j 
and  any  organization,  any  institution,  any  code  of  morality,  any 
antiquity  of  custom  that  may  be  athwart  the  path  of  Love,  must 
perish  beneath  her  chariot  wheels.  Her  divine  mission  is  to 
elevate,  to  ennoble,  to  enfold  in  her  comprehensive  embrace  all 
the  families  of  earth.  And  as  age  follows  age,  through  the  long 
annals  of  time,  she  has  gradually  but  steadily  enlarged  the  borders 
of  her  wide  dominion.  Not  much  longer  will  she  tolerate  the 
existence  of  those  who  resist  her  gentle  sway.  The  time  is  near 
when  the  cultivated  scholar,  surrounded  by  all  the  appliances  of 
modern  civilization,  will  spontaneously  seek  the  companionship 
of  the  bushman,  because  the  cardinal  principle  of  this  heaven- 
born  affection  is  the  essential  equality  of  the  race.  It  levels  all 
distinctions.  And  as  we  find  the  tokens  of  high  sentiment  in  the 
domestic  animals  around  us,  it  may  be  that  the  approaching 
Golden  Age  will  dawn  upon  this  sphere,  when  man  ceases  to 
recoil  from  his  nearest  link  in  the  great  chain  of  development, 
and  with  cheerful  composure  takes  the  gorilla  to  his  bosom." 


90  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

11 1  had  never  thought  of  all  that,"  answered  Darcy,  stunned. 

"  No,"  said  Miss  Abby ;  "  moral  questions  of  that  nature  are 
not  often  discussed  in  your  latitude.  Have  you  ever  heard  Mr. 
Squizzein's  lecture  on  the  cultivation  of  the  species  f 

"  No,  I  never  heard  of  Mr.  Squizzem." 

"  Never  heard  of  Mr.  Squizzem  ?  Nina,  my  dear,  he  never 
heard  of  Mr.  Squizzem.  Mr.  Gaston,  you  can  scarcely  be  abreast 
of  the  age  if  you  don't  know  Mr.  Squizzem.  It  is  conceded,  I 
believe,  in  all  civilized  countries,  that  Squizzem  is  the  foremost 
thinker  of  this  century.  Stay !  Here  is  Mrs.  Bragdon's  album  ! 
She  has  his  photograph,  of  course.  Ah !  yes.  Look  at  that 
countenance,  Mr.  Gaston,  and  tell  me  what  you  think." 

Darcy  studied  the  picture,  with  the  direct  purpose  of  estimating 
the  character  of  the  original.  A  beardless  face,  surmounted  by 
a  profusion  of  wavy  hair,  brushed  backward,  intellectually.  A 
prominent  nose,  something  like  that  part  of  the  sun-dial  that  casts 
the  shadow,  and  over  all  a  thick  layer  of  egregious  conceit  and 
self-assertion. 

"  Well  P  said  Miss  Abby. 

"He  looks  like  he  wrote  verses,"  replied  Darcy,  doubtfully; 
that  is,  he  looks  like  he  thinks  he  can." 

"  Would  you  not  take  him  for  the  foremost  man  of  his  genera 
tion?"  said  Miss  Abby. 

"  I  cannot  say  that  I  would.  But  1  am  sure  he  takes  himself 
in  that  way ;  so  it's  no  consequence,  as  Mr.  Skillet  says." 

"  I  don't  know  whether  you  are  serious  or  not,  Mr.  Gaston,"  said 
Miss  Abby ;  "  but  you  are  the  first  gentleman  I  have  met  who 
did  not  think  Mr.  Squizzem  has  a  striking  countenance." 

"I  think  it  is  quite  striking,  Miss  Keith.  And  I  am  sure  he  is 
either  an  intellectual  giant,  or  else" 

"  Or  else  what !» 

"  Or  else  very  much  mistaken." 

Miss  Abby  closed  the  album  with  a  snap,  and  Nina  once  more 
indulged  in  a  good  healthy  laugh. 

"  I  will  only  say  a  word  more,  Mr.  Gaston,"  observed  Miss 
Abby.  "Laying  aside  all  prejudice,  please  tell  me  your  estimate 
of  the  African  mind." 

"  African  mind !    Do  you  mean  the  American  negro  ?" 

"  Yes." 

"  I  am  hardly  competent  to  judge,"  said  Darcy,  musingly.  "  My 
life  has  been  spent  among  these  people,  servants  mostly,  born  in 


THE  FOREMOST  MAN  OF  THE  AGE.  91 

my  father's  house.  Under  tutelage  and  restraint,  I  think  they 
make  the  best  peasantry  on  the  face  of  the  earth.  But  while  they 
have  quick  intuitions,  I  think  they  have  none  of  the  logical  power 
that  belongs  to  the  white  race.  I  have  never  known  one  that 
could  apprehend  the  syllogism." 

"  And  this  mental  condition  is  the  result  of  generations  of 
bondage,"  said  Miss  Abby. 

"  Hardly,"  replied  Darcy.  "  So  far  as  known,  the  African  in 
his  native  land  is  no  wiser  than  his  descendants  here.  I  foresee 
that  he  is  about  to  enter  a  new  sphere,  and  I  have  none  other 
than  kindly  feelings  for  him,  but  I  have  not  much  hope  for  him." 

Miss  Abby  was  about  to  answer,  when  the  door  opened,  and 
admitted  the  original  of  the  photograph.  He  shook  hands  im 
pressively  with  the  ladies,  and  was  presented  in  due  form  to 
Darcy. 

"  Mr.  Gaston,  Mr.  Squizzern !" 


CHAPTEE  XIX. 

THE  FOKEMOST  MAN  OF  THE  AGE. 

*' /"\H,  Mr.  Squizzem !"  said  Miss  Keith,  rapturously,  "lam 
\~s  so  glad  you  have  come  !  Mr.  Gaston  has  just  asserted 
that  the  African  mind  is  incapable  of  the  apprehension  of  the 
syllogism !" 

"  Indeed  1"  said  Mr.  Squizzem,  loftily ;  "  we  must  introduce  Mr. 
Gaston  to  Frederick  Douglass." 

"Who  is  Frederick  Douglass1?"  said  Darcy. 

"  Do  you  really  not  know  P  asked  Mr.  Squizzem,  surveying 
Darcy  incredulously ;  "  well,  Mr.  Douglass  is  one  of  the  foremost 
men  of  this  age !  With  most  acute  perceptions  of  truth,  and 
with  few  opportunities  for  culture,  he  has  attained  the  front  rank 
among  the  master-minds  of  this  century.  I  look  forward  to  the 
time,  in  the  near  future,  when  he  will  occupy  the  Presidential 
chair  !  and  I  should  be  proud  to  be  his  Foreign  Secretary." 

"  There  are  so  many  foremost  men,"  observed  Darcy,  "  that  I 
fear  the  standard  is  not  very  high.  How  large  is  the  master 
mind,  for  example  ?" 

Mr.  Squizzem  rested  his  elbow  on  the  mantle  and  struck  an  at- 


92  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

titude.  He  expanded  his  manly  bosom.  He  straightened  out 
his  elongated  legs  and  brought  his  right  boot  handsomely  to  the 
front.  This  young  man  must  be  exterminated. 

"  Perhaps  you  have  never  heard  my  lecture  on  the  l  Euclid  of 
Mortality?' "  he  began. 

"  No.  I  have  but  recently  arrived.  That  pleasure  is  in  store 
for  me.  The  title  is  very  striking." 

"Iii  that  lecture,"  continued  Mr.  Squizzem,  "I  have  endeavoured 
to  demonstrate,  with  mathematical  accuracy,  the  falsity  of  the  gen 
eral  idea  of  property.  Ownership  in  anything  that  interferes 
with  the  voluntary  methods  by  which  the  human  race  finds  hap 
piness,  is  so  near  akin  to  robbery,  that  the  differential  points  are 
too  infinitesimal  for  scrutiny." 

"  Pardon  me !"  said  Darcy,  "  am  I  to  understand  that  lands, 
houses,  moneys,  inherited  by  legitimate  children,  are  included  in 
this  sweeping  postulate  P 

"  Around  the  world,  yes !"  answered  Squizzem,  in  thunder 
tones. 

"  I  don't  mean  around  the  world.    I  mean  here,  in  New  York." 

"  And  I  mean,"  retorted  Mr.  Squizzem,  severely,  "that  the  last 
development  of  human  wisdom  is  in  the  formation  of  a  league 
that  ignores  all  property  titles.  The  commune  is  the  hope  of  the 
world.  In  all  the  down-trodden  governments  of  Europe  this 
bright  spirit  of  liberty  is  cabined,  cribbed,  confined.  And  on 
these  shores,  the  hospitable  retreat  for  the  oppressed  of  every 
clime,  the  true  principles  of  liberty  are  destined  to  find  their 
legitimate  outgrowth.  The  beneficent  genius  of  the  age  has 
stricken  the  shackles  from  the  free  limbs  of  manhood,  and  now 
invites  the  rapt  attention  of  the  universe  to  the  apotheosis  of  Free 
dom!  In  this  free  land,  the  former  slave  to  creeds  and  customs 
will  find  the  true  scope  of  his  normal  powers,  in  possessing  him 
self  of  all  the  good  within  reach  of  his  hand,  without  the  irksome 
restraints  of  law.  Do  you  not  see  there  could  be  no  thefts  if 
there  were  no  property  1  All  through  the  long  epochs  of  the  dis 
mal  past,  the  smothered  wail  of  humanity  teaches  the  same  les 
son.  The  noble  spirits,  that  have  been  the  very  off-scouring  of 
society,  tabooed  or  banished,  or  held  back  by  gyves  and  prison 
gratings,  to  prevent  their  violation  of  some  absurd  feudal  mons 
trosity  called  law,  are  now  calling  to  us  from  their  dishonored 
graves  to  take  up  the  battle  gage !" 

"  There  must  be  truth  in  what  you  say,"  said  Darcy,  as  the 


THE  FOREMOST  MAN  OF  THE  AGE.  93 

orator  paused  for  breath  j  "  I  have  noticed  that  officials,  in  various 
places  throughout  the  land,  are  literally  fulfilling  your  words, 
and  taking  whatever  their  hands  can  reach.  Pray  go  on,  sir.  I 
am  deeply  interested." 

The  orator  glanced  at  his  watch.  It  was  not  profitable  to  de 
liver  his  lecture  gratis,  and  he  did  not  like  Darcy's  prompt  agree 
ment  with  his  gushing  doctrines. 

"  Some  other  time,"  he  said  j  "  at  present  I  am  hurried.  I  called 
to  see  Mary.  Is  she  at  home  F 

Nina  touched  the  bell,  and  when  the  servant  appeared,  asked 
for  Mrs.  Bragdon.  She  was  in  the  library.  Would  Mr.  Squizzein 
please  walk  in  there  I  Mr.  Squizzein  walked  in,  and  Miss  Abby 
followed.  The  lofty  utterances  of  Squizzem  were  too  precious  to 
be  lost. 

"What  do  you  think  of  Mr.  Squizzem  P  asked  Nina,  when  she 
and  Darcy  were  once  more  alone. 

"  I  have  not  known  him  long  enough  to  judge  him,"  replied 
Darcy,  cautiously.  "  He  is  a  very  ready  speaker." 

"You  are  remarkably  conservative,  Mr.  Gaston!"  said  Nina. 
"What  do  you  know  about  Mr.  Grey  P 

"  Mr.  Grey  P 

"Yes." 

"  I  saw  in  the  paper  yesterday,  that  some  Mr.  Grey  had  dis 
appeared— 

"  You  were  on  the  train  with  him,  Mr.  Skillet  told  me." 

"  Was  I  ?  Well,  if  it  was  Mr.  Grey  who  fell  from  the  cliff,  I 
hardly  saw  him.  It  was  in  the  night,  and  we  exchanged  a  few 
words  only.  I  believe  I  never  saw  him  before  that  night." 

"You  believeF 

"  One  cannot  be  certain,"  replied  Darcy.  "  It  seems  to  me  now 
that  his  face  was  familiar.  We  may  have  met  somewhere.  Was 
he  in  the  army  F 

"  Oh,  no !"  said  Nina,  disdainfully ;  "  men  of  that  sort  don't 
go  into  the  army  !" 

"  I  did  not  mean  in  our  army,"  said  Darcy ;  "  I  thought  he 
might  have  been  among  the  two  or  three  hundred  men  that  rode 
down  upon  me  and  over  me,  down  there  in  Kentucky." 

"  Oh  no  !"  said  Miss  Norman. 

"  Well,  then,  I  cannot  account  for  the  impression  that  we  have 
met  somewhere  ;  he  certainly  knew  my  name." 

"  Some  one  told  him,  perhaps." 


94  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

"  No ;  that  was  not  possible.  No  one  on  the  train  knew  my 
name.  I  never  heard  his  until  yesterday." 

"  Then  you  can  tell  me  nothing  about  him  ?"  said  Nina. 
"  If  you  could  trust  me  enough  to  tell  me  what  you  desire  to 
know,  I  would  gladly  serve  you.  Mr.  Skillet  sent  me  here  for  that 
purpose,  and  it  is  my  clear  duty.  Besides,  I  would  be  bound  to  serve 
any  lady,  to  the  best  of  my  ability,  whenever  she  honoured  me  by 
demanding  service.  Can  you  not  consider  me  Mr.  Skillet  for  the 
nonce  P 

"  I  think  not,"  replied  Nina,  smiling.  "  But  I  will  do  better.  I 
will  tell  you  something  that  Mr.  Skillet  does  not  know ;  it  was  I 
who  sent  Mr.  Grey  to  the  West.  It  was  a  special  mission,  and  he 
was  cautioned  to  keep  the  object  secret.  I  have  had  but  one  letter 
from  him ;  here  it  is.  Eead  it,  and  tell  me  precisely  what  you 
think  it  means." 

Darcy  took  the  letter  and  read  it  carefully.  It  was  written  on  a 
sheet  of  note  paper  in  a  dainty  hand : 

"CINCINNATI,  Tuesday. 

"  DEAR  COUSIN  NINA  :  I  have  not  found  that  for  which  you 
sent  me ;  but  I  have  found  the  next.  The  first  does  not  exist ;  the 
second  I  will  present  to  you  within  a  week.  RUPERT." 

"  Cousin  Nina !"  said  Darcy,  returning  the  letter.  "  I  did  not 
know  that  Mr.  Grey  was  related  to  you." 

"  Yes,"  replied  Miss  Norman ;  "  but  you  do  not  say  what  he 
means." 

"  .How  should  I  know  ?"  said  Darcy. 

"  Have  you  nd  theory  upon  the  subject  F  persisted  Nina. 
"  Listen !  I  am  the  seventh  child  of  my  father,  and  he  was  the 
seventh  child  of  my  grandfather.  There  is  some  superstition  that 
gives  special  insight  to- the  seventh  child  of  a  seventh.  Have  you 
never  heard  it  ?  You  have  !  Well,  I  believe  in  it  so  strongly  that 
I  never  distrust  my  instincts ;  and  now  I  have  two.  The  first  is, 
that  a  man  is  bent  with  desperate  determination  upon  the  solitary 
purpose  to  deceive  me ;  the  second  is,  that  you  will  aid  me  in  my 
desperate  determination  to  thwart  him  !  And  I  seem  to  see  that 
you  know  the  man,  and  are  at  this  moment  hiding  from  me  the 
extent  of  your  knowledge.  I  have  inherited  great  wealth,  some- 
part  of  which  I  hold  in  trust  for — another.  I  seem  to  see  that  this 
watchful,  relentless  adversary  is  intent  upon  securing  for  himself 
that  identical  property.  I  am  sure  you  are  a  gentleman ;  I  am 
certain  you  will  not  deceive  me,  though  you  may  refuse  to  enlighten 


THE  FOREMOST  MAN  OF  THE  AGE.  95 

me.  But  I  can  never  be  happy  until  I  dispose  of  this  property, 
and  the  first  thing  for  you  to  do  is,  to  devise  a  plan  whereby  I  can 
obtain  possession  of  it ;  it  is  part  of  an  estate  not  yet  divided.  If 
I  should  avow  iny  purpose  to  part  with  it,  those  who  have  a  joint 
interest  in  it  would  take  steps  to  prevent  me,  no  matter  why. 
Now,  sir,  can  you  and  will  you  undertake  this  case  f 

"  Mr.  Skillet,"  began  Darcy,  strangely  moved  by  her  words  and 
manner — "Mr.  Skillet  instructs  me  to  render  you  whatever 
service  you  may  require.  But,  surely,  this  is  a  matter  for  law- 

"  The  only  lawyer  I  know,  or  desire  to  know,  is  Mr.  Coke,  and 
he  is  the  legal  adviser  of  my  family.  I  cannot  engage  him  to  as 
sume  a  position  that  even  appears  antagonistic  to  other  interests. 
No ;  you  are  lawyer  enough  for  this  emergency." 

"  If  I  should  attempt  to  meddle,"  said  Darcy,  rising  and  stand 
ing  before  her,  "  your  friends  and  kindred  would  say  you  were 
misled  by  an  unknown  adventurer.  How  long  would  you  be  able 
to  resist  the  multitude  of  innuendoes  they  would  launch  at  you  f 
And  when  you  fiually  yielded,  and  dismissed  me,  your  case  would 
be  worse  for  my  interference ;  besides,  I  am  only  the  clerk  of  Mr. 
Skillet " 

"  That  is  precisely  the  strong  point.  Let  Mr.  Skillet  be  the  os 
tensible  adviser  and  friend,  and  do  you  manage  all  the  details. 
Do  not  tell  Mr.  Skillet  any  of  your  plans " 

"  Madam,"  said  Darcy,  interrupting  her,  "  you  require  impossi 
bilities.  I  am  sent  by  Mr.  Skillet ;  I  am  in  his  service.  He  pays 
me  for  the  hour  I  have  spent  here.  It  is  not  possible  to  conceal 
one  word  from  him,  if  he  should  question  me." 

"  Suppose  l  my  friends  and  kindred '  should  not  be  able  to  make 
me  distrust  you,"  said  Nina,  "  what  effect  would  injurious  sug 
gestions,  affecting  your  integrity,  have  upon  you  ?" 

"  If  a  man  should  openly  charge  me  with  fraud,"  replied  Darcy, 
slowly,  "  I  should  be  bound  to  resent  the  insult " 

"  And  if  a  woman  P 

"  If  a  woman,  I  should  be  equally  bound  to  endure  the  imputa 
tion  in  silence." 

Miss  Norman  tore  off  the  blank  leaf  from  the  letter  she  still 
held,  and  rapidly  wrote  a  few  lines  upon  it  with  a  pencil.  Folding 
the  missive,  she  addressed  it  to  "  Mr.  Skillet." 

"I  will  not  detain  you  longer  now,"  she  said,  rising;  "please 
give  this  to  Mr.  Skillet  Here  comes  Miss  Abby.  Good  morning, 
Mr.  Gaston  !" 


96  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

CHAPTER  XX. 
THE   GOLD   BOOM. 

c '  rpHIS  is  a  nice  business,  I  don't  think !"  said  Mr.  Skillet, 
-J-  after  reading  the  note  brought  by  Darcy;  "kinder  cool 
and  collected  like,  too !  Did  you  read  this  note  ?" 

"  Certainly  not,  sir !"  said  Darcy,  insulted. 

"  Why,  it  warn't  sealed !    Did  she  tell  you  not  to  read  it  ?" 

"  No,  sir,"  replied  Darcy,  coldly. 

"It's  cu'rous,"  observed  Mr.  Skillet,  still  perusing  the  note. 
"  I'd  like  to  know  what  you  said  to  her  and  what  she  said  to  you." 

"  I  will  recount  the  entire  conversation,  sir.  First,  Mr.  Squizzem ; 
no,  first,  Miss  Keith  was  presented " 

"  Miss  Keith !    Schoolmarm  !    What  did  Miss  Keith  say  ?" 

"  A  great  deal,  sir.  She  must  have  studied  the  speech.  It  was 
about  rebellion  and  love " 

"  Ya-as !    About  love.    Go  on  !" 

"  I  cannot  remember  the  words.  She  concluded  by  saying  I 
ought  to  hug  a  gorilla." 

"  Bully  for  Miss  Keith  !"  ejaculated  Mr.  Skillet.  "  She  got  that 
from  Dragger.  I  seed  it  in  one  of  his  printed  sermons.  Great 
man,  Dragger!  Pews  rent  same  price  as  a  four-story  brown  stone 
front  on  Fi'th  Av'noo  !  A  feller  ran  off  with  another  feller's  wife ; 
T'other  feller  shot  him.  Before  he  died  he  wanted  to  be  married  to 
t'other  feller's  wife,  and  Dragger  and  Fizzlebacon  fixed  'em  up. 
Bully  for  Dragger !  Go  on." 

"  Then,  Mr.  Squizzem  came,"  continued  Darcy,  rather  stunned 
by  this  outflow  of  contemporaneous  history ;  "  and  he  lectured 
me  on  the  foremost  man  of  the  age.  I  thought  he  meant  himself, 
but  he  said  he  meant  some  Mr.  Douglass." 

"  Oh,  aye  !  Fred  Douglass  1  First  class  barber,  I  guess.  Bright 
m  flatter.  Smart,  too.  Go  on,  please  !" 

"Well,  sir,  Mr.  Squizzem  left  the  room,  and  Miss  Keith  fol 
lowed " 

"Of  course!"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  rudely;  "the  women  all  believe 
in  Squizzem.  He  kisses  'em,  bless  you,  right  and  left !  Pop'lar 
lecturer.  Leonidas  Squizzem !  They  do  say  he  is  goiu'  into  the 
spiritual  dodge,  now.  Go  on,  please  I" 

"  Then  Miss  Norman  requested  me  to  undertake  some  partition 
of  property  in  which  she  is  interested  ;  to  form  plans,  and  keep 
my  plans  secret,  even  from  you " 


THE  GOLD  ROOM.  9t 

"  Stop,  please  !"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  holding  up  his  hand,  "  you've 
got  to  the  jumpin'  off  place,  I  guess.  Now,  read  this  note." 

Darcy  took  the  open  paper  and  read : 

"  Miss  Norman  presents  her  compliments  to  Mr.  Skillet,  and 
requests  that  Mr.  Gaston  may  call  on  her  to-morrow,  at  the  same 
hour,  and  also  that  Mr.  Skillet  will  allow  Mr.  Gaston  to  maintain, 
for  the  present,  perfect  silence  in  relation  to  the  business  matters 
under  consideration." 

"  Now,"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  "do  you  suppose  she  means  to  include 
me,  when  she  says  l  perfect  silence,'  underscored  P 

"  Yes,  sir ;  in  fact,  she  said  as  much." 

"  And  what  did  you  say  F 

"  I  told  her  I  could  have  no  secrets  from  you;  that  I  was  acting 
as  your  representative,  under  salary,  and  I  advised  her  to  employ 
some  competent  lawyer  instead  of  me.'7 

"  Wa-al !  it's  no  consequence,"  observed  Mr.  Skillet,  after  a 
pause,  during  which  he  had  a  mental  struggle,  and  achieved  a 
victory ;  "  you  will  have  to  humour  her,  I  guess.  The  case  is  in 
a  nut  shell.  The  young  woman  is  full  of  whims,  but  her  grand 
father  raised  me.  I  was  clerk  in  his  office  ten  years,  and  then 
he  set  me  up  when  he  retired.  Then  her  father  stood  by  me  when 
I  had  no  capital  to  speak  of.  He  gave  me  lots  of  business,  and 
brought  other  customers.  Her  grandmother  always  sent  for  me 
to  consult  about  investments.  It's  a  risky  business,  though,  and 
you  must  keep  your  eyes  skun  and  your  mouth  shet,  pooty  gen 
erally.  It's  a  safe  rule.  You  can  talk  like  thunder  two  hours,  if 
you're  smart,  without  saying  anything.  Don't  write  anything. 
You  can  do  all  by  talking.  And  if  any  writing  has  to  be  done,  in 
the  way  of  memorandums,  you  can  jest  let  her  do  it  herself.  And 
now,  please  keep  your  jaw !  If  I  should  forget,  and  ask  you  any 
questions,  jest  remind  me  that  you  are  on  confidence.  Two  o'clock ! 
Go  round  to  the  gold-room,  please,  and  see  what  you  can  find  out 
about  the  market.  Here,  you  must  have  a  pass — '  Mr.  Gaston, 
attorney  for  T.  Skillet.'  That'll  do." 

Darcy  gained  admission  to  the  Gold  Exchange,  and  found  him 
self  suddenly  in  the  midst  of  a  room  full  of  maniacs.  There  was  a 
fountain  in  the  centre  of  the  room,  with  an  iron  railing  around  it. 
Two  or  three  dozen  maniacs  were  leaning  over  the  rail,  with  out 
stretched  arms,  wildly  gesticulating,  and  shouting  out  bids  and 
offers.  The  presiding  officer  sat  in  an  enclosed  desk,  reading  a 
newspaper  as  composedly  as  though  he  were  reposing  in  some 

7 


98  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

sylvan  solitude.  The  circle  of  "  operators"  was  three  or  four  deep, 
and  nine-tenths  of  them  were  bawling  offers  to  buy  or  sell  fabulous 
sums.  Enough  millions  to  pay  the  national  debt  were  offered  by 
seedy  looking  individuals,  who  would  not  sell  for  ten  dollars 
apiece  in  any  second  hand  clothing  shop.  "  I'll  give  a  quarter 
for  any  part  of  a  million !"  shouted  one,  whose  exterior  did  not 
indicate  the  ownership  of  five  cents.  "  I'll  sell  any  part  of  a  mil 
lion  for  three-eighths !"  said  a  madman  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
circle,  who  looked  wealthy  enough  to  go  into  partnership  with  the 
other. 

Darcy  walked  around  the  circle,  looking  with  great  curiosity  at 
the  faces  of  the  people,  so  intent  upon  their  traffic  that  they  did 
not  notice  him.  A  bright  looking  youth  standing  near  him, 
when  he  stopped,  touched  his  arm. 

u  Can't  get  her  up,"  he  observed,  in  reply  to  Darcy's  inquiring 
look. 

"  Get  her  up  ?"  repeated  Darcy. 

"  Yes !  All  Bull  dodge  !  Hasn't  been  a  real  sale  to-day  over 
a  naith." 

"  A  naith  f ' 

"Yes.  Seventy-four  bid;  seventy-four  and  a  naith,  asked. 
Jings  JMok  twenty  at  a  naith.  Had  an  order.  All  them  bids  is 
bogus." 

"  How  can  that  be  ?"  said  Darcy,  beginning  to  understand. 
tl  There  is  a  man  bidding  a  quarter  for  a  million.  Listen  how 
eagerly  he  bawls  !" 

"  Oh,  yes.  That  is  Spang's  attorney.  Hillo  !  There  goes  the 
president's  hammer !  Let's  see  what's  up  ?" 

The  president  pounded  on  the  block  about  five  minutes.  The 
room  gradually  became  quiet. 

"  Gentlemen !"  said  the  president,  "  Mr.  Jings  claims  a  pur 
chase  of  one  hundred  thousand  at  a  quarter,  of  Mr.  Spang.  Mr. 
Spang  claims  the  purchase  of  the  same  amount  from  Mr.  Jiugs. 
All  those  who  saw  the  transaction  will  please  vote.  Those  who 
give  the  purchase  to  Mr.  Spang  will  please  hold  up  their  hands. 
Eleven  !  Those  who  give  the  purchase  to  Mr.  Jings  will  please 
hold  up  their  hands.  Four!  Spang  has  it."  And  he  took  up 
his  newspaper  and  was  absorbed  in  two  seconds,  while  the  room 
resumed  its  uproar  in  the  same  space  of  time.  Darcy's  interlocu 
tor  nodded  triumphantly. 

"  Told  you  so,"  he  said. 


THE  GOLD  BOOM.  99 

"  I  do  not  understand,"  replied  Darcy. 

"Come  over  here  and  sit  down,  and  I'll  explain.  You  see, 
Spang  and  Jings  are  both  bullin'  the  metal.  They  made  up 
that  little  dispute,  just  to  fix  a  quotation.  Now  listen  !  There's 
ten  voices  offering  to  sell  it  at  a  quarter.  Only  three  or  four 
bidding  a  naith." 

"  How  does  the  market  look  f"  said  Darcy,  remembering  that 
this  was  the  point  in  which  he  was  interested. 

"  Down !  Be  off  two  points  to-morrow.  Gov'ment  going  to  tilt 
ten  millions.  I'm  five  hundred  thousand  short  at  a  quarter." 

"  And  do  you  feel  no  apprehensions  ?"  said  Darcy.  "  Suppose 
it  should  go  up  a  point  or  two  to-morrow  f" 

"  Ah  !  well,"  replied  the  other,  "  I  should  only  have  to  wait  a 
day  or  two.  Sure  to  come  down.  Gov'ment  bound  to  sell.  Hillo ! 
there  is  a  real  sale  at  three-eighths  !" 

Darcy  walked  across  the  room,  and  accosted  a  sober  looking 
old  gentleman,  who  seemed  to  be  watching  "  the  market"  very 
intently. 

"  Excuse  me,  sir,"  he  said,  "  but  I  am  so  confused  by  this 
uproar,  which  is  entirely  new  to  me,  that  I  can  form  no  judgment 
as  to  the  tendency  of  the  market !  Will  you  favour  me  with  your 
opinion  ?" 

"  Ah  !"  said  the  old  gentleman,  politely,  "  you  are  new  at  the 
business  !" 

"  Yes.    This  is  my  first  visit  here." 

"And  you  find  it  difficult  to  decide  which  way  to  operate  I" 

"  Operate  f ' 

"  Yes.    You  want  to  speculate,  I  suppose." 

"  Not  I,"  answered  Darcy,  with  a  shudder.  "  I  should  go  mad 
if  I  were  to  incur  the  frightful  risks  that  are  so  lightly  regarded 
here.  That  dilapidated  gentleman  yonder  has  sold  five  hundred 
thousand  at  a  quarter,  and  now  three-eighths  is  bid.  There !  It 
is  selling  at  a  half." 

"  That  dilapidated  gentleman  is  worth  two  millions.  He  is  the 
coolest  operator  in  the  room.  Always  wins.  See !  He  is  selling 
now  at  a  half." 

"  Where  can  he  find  the  gold  to  deliver  to-morrow  f  asked  Darcy, 
in  wonder.  "  I  have  counted  more  millions  sold  here  this  morning 
than  could  be  found  in  the  whole  country." 

The  old  gentleman  looked  at  the  youth  in  surprise. 

"  Why,  my  dear  sir,  none  of  this  gold  is  delivered.    They  pay 


100  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

the  difference  between  the  sale  and  to-morrow's  quotation.  Or 
they  borrow  or  lend  as  the  case  may  be,  if  they  desire  to  continue 
the  risk.  As  for  the  probable  course  of  the  market,  the  old  apple 
woman  sitting  at  the  entrance  there,  knows  just  as  much  as  the 
best  operator  in  the  room.  If  you  want  to  win  here,  always  bet 
against  your  judgment." 

Darcy  went  back  to  the  office  with  a  very  unsatisfactory 
report.  The  Government  was  going  to  tilt  uncounted  millions 
upon  the  market  to-morrow.  And  while  everybody  seemed  to 
know  the  fact,  the  quotation  had  increased.  It  was  seventy -four 
and  three  quarters  when  he  left.  Mr.  Skillet  received  the  news 
with  a  grin  and  without  comment. 

That  night  the  gold-room  sat  on  Darcy's  breast,  a  huge  night 
mare.  The  presiding  officer  pounded  him  on  the  head  with  his 
mallet,  calling  him  to  order,  though  he  was  quiet  as  a  mouse.  A 
little  red  haired  man,  with  eyes  that  were  constantly  threatening 
to  pop  out  of  their  sockets,  was  swinging  his  arms  over  an  iron 
rail,  and  roaring  in  a  voice  totally  out  of  proportion  to  his  size, 

"  I'll  sell  any  part  of  a  hundred  thousand  billions  at  an  aith  !" 


CHAPTER   XXI. 

TITLE  DEEDS. 

ON.  the  succeeding  day,  Miss  Norman  gave  Darcy  sundry  doc 
uments  relating  to  the  Norman  estate ;  consisting  of  attested 
copies  of  title  deeds  to  real  estate,  and  schedules  of  stocks,  bonds 
and  other  personal  property.  With  these,  she  also  placed  in  his 
hands  an  envelope,  sealed  and  addressed  to  Darcy  Euthven  Gas- 
ton,  Esq. 

"  I  will  be  greatly  indebted  to  you,"  she  said,  "  if  you  will  make 
a  list  of  the  personal  property,  affixing  to  each  portion  the  present 
value.  If  you  can  discover,  without  direct  inquiry,  the  approximate 
value  of  the  real  estate,  I  should  be  glad  to  know  that  also,  in 
detail.  You  cannot  question  property  agents  without  exciting 
suspicion,  and  inducing  the  very  discussion  I  wish  to  avoid.  Do 
not  open  the  sealed  package,  until  you  finish  the  other  papers. 
And  please  return  all  to  me,  with  any  comments  or  suggestions 
you  may  think  requisite." 


TITLE  DEEDS.  101 

Darcy  took  the  papers,  glanced  at  the  titles,  and  put  them  in 
his  pocket.  • 

"  How  long  a  time  will  you  require  ?"  said  Nina. 

"  I  cannot  say  until  I  examine  the  papers ;"  replied  he. 

"  I  am  going  to  Europe  on  the  22d ;  two  weeks  from  to-day.  In 
the  mean  time,  I  very  earnestly  desire  to — to  obtain  exclusive 
possession  of  my  portion  of  the  estate.  It  is  by  no  means  indis 
pensable,  however,  and  if  you  find  any  reason  for  delay,  do  not 
hesitate  to  inform  me." 

"  I  will  do  my  best,  madam,"  replied  Darcy.  "  I  understand  you 
to  say  that  I  must  tell  no  one  what  these  papers  may  reveal  ?" 

"  No  one, "  said  Nina,  promptly. 

"  Mr.  Skillet  kindly  consents  to  that  arrangement,"  said  Darcy. 
"  I  will  begin  to-night,  in  my  own  room.  It  is  possible  that  I  can 
give  you  the  needed  information  within  the  time  you  mention.  I 
may  go  now  ?" 

"  I  should  tell  you,"  said  Nina,  as  he  took  up  his  hat,  "  that  the 
names  in  the  sealed  paper  are  all  fictitious.  That  is,  the  initials 
do  not  indicate  the  real  persons." 

u  They  will  reveal  nothing  to  me,  certainly,"  answered  Darcy, 
smiling,  u  as  I  am  a  stranger  to  all  parties.  May  I  ask  if  your 
stay  in  Europe  will  be  prolonged  f " 

11 1  don't  know,"  she  replied ;  "  I  only  know  that  I  am  dying  to 
get  away  from  New  York.  Away  !  Anywhere  !" 

Darcy  looked  with  surprise  at  her  flushed  countenance. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon !"  he  said ;  "  good  morning,  madam." 

She  held  out  her  hand  to  him,  amused  at  his  penitent  look. 

"  You  were  surprised  at  my  vehemence.  Nothing  in  your  ques 
tion  induced  it.  You  are  very  courtly,  or — very  kind.  I  am  sure 
you  would  not  pain  me  intentionally.  Good  morning.  Please 
come  one  week  from  to-day." 

"  If  I  were  impressible,"  thought  Darcy,  as  he  walked  down  the 
avenue,  u  I  could  fancy  myself  ready  to  fall  in  love  with  this  im 
pulsive  young  lady.  What  a  soft  little  hand  she  has !  I  wonder 
if  it  is  the  New  York  fashion  to  shake  hands  with  a  lady  the 
second  time  one  meets  her  ?  She  put  out  her  hand  to  me,  cer 
tainly.  Now,  I  cannot  write  a  word  of  this  business  to  brother 
Tige,  either,  as  I  am  '  on  confidence.'  What  can  be  in  this  sealed 
envelope  ?  This  day  week  I  am  to  go  back,  she  says.  That  means 
I  am  not  to  go  sooner.  Perhaps  it  also  means  that  I  must  not 
presume  upon  my  business  acquaintance.  Donrt  be  alarmed,  my 
lady! 


102  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

11  Fall  in  love,  indeed  !  Not  I.  Too  many  title  deeds  and  too 
large  a  schedule  of  personals.  Too  decided  in  her  opinions.  Too 
resolute  and  self  confident.  Strong  minded,  I  suspect.  A  friend 
of  that  Squizzem,  probably,  with  his  nose  in  the  air.  He  is  the 
kind  of  fellow  we  used  to  call  a  l  sucker,'  at  college.  What  an 
unlimited  ass  he  is,  to  be  sure  ! 

"  The  girl  interests  me  greatly !  She  has  some  scheme  in  her 
mind  that  she  does  not  reveal.  Once  or  twice  she  has  halted  in 
the  midst  of  a  sentence ;  and  she  has  been  tortured  by  some  devil 
of  a  man.  Aha !  I  see  it.  That  Grey  fellow. 

"  No  !  She  never  cared  a  straw  for  him.  But  he  may  have 
cared  for  her.  She  is  not  the  sort  of  woman  a  man  would  go  mad 
about ;  but  if  she  liked  a  fellow  at  all  she  would  like  him  tre 
mendously  !  and  if  she  knew  a  fellow  was  a  sucker  she  would  be 
apt  to  tell  him  so.  Evidently,  that  is  her  estimate  of  Grey. 

"  She  has  not  pitched  into  me  once  about  rebellion  and  all  that 
sort  of  stuff.  I  am  totally  bewildered  whenever  I  try  to  make  her 
out.  I  wish  I  could  ask  Tige.  How  would  it  do  to  state  a  hypo 
thetical  case  ?  Won't  do !  Tige  is  so  sharp  he  would  smoke  me 
out  in  two  minutes. 

"  I  wonder  what  Mr.  Skillet  thinks  about  it.  He  would  natu 
rally  resent  Miss  Norman's  cool  manner  and  her  request  to  mind 
his  own  business.  He  is  a  regular  old  brick,  though.  Kind  and 
thoughtful  as  he  can  be. 

"  I  intended  to  have  an  interview  with  Miss  Euthven  to-night, 
but  I  must  get  at  these  papers.  But  I  will  find  out  how  she  likes 
that  sewing  place  and  how  they  treat  her  there.  The  idea  of 
Colonel  Buthven's  daughter  making  her  living  by  sewing  !  Yet, 
why  not  ?  She  looked  better  satisfied  last  night — quite  composed 
and  dignified.  l  She  is  not  going  to  live  on  anybody's  charity.' 
That  is  what  her  manner  said.  I'll  ask  Mr.  Skillet  if  he  cannot 
find  a  more  congenial  vocation  for  her,  though.  If  she  could  out 
grow  that  mournful  expression  she  would  be  positively  lovely ! 
Somehow,  when  I  look  at  her  I  am  filled  with  grief.  I  mean  to 
have  a  little  talk  to-night,  anyhow." 

But  the  fates  were  against  him.  Miss  Harding  had  a  headache, 
and  was  not  visible.  Darcy  dined  down  town,  and  consequently 
missed  seeing  her  at  dinner.  He  thought  he  would  ask  Mr.  Camp, 
the  next  day,  if  he  might  board  as  well  as  lodge  at  his  house,  and 
then  he  went  to  his  room  and  unfolded  his  papers. 

The  personal  property  was  soon  disposed  of.    He  had  a  list  of 


TITLE  DEEDS.  103 

late  quotations,  and  could  easily  affix  the  estimates  of  value. 
Then  he  made  a  list  of  the  real  estate.  Numerous  stores,  some  on 
Broadway,  and  some  in  the  vicinity  of  Wall  street.  A  large 
parcel  of  unimproved  ground,  far  up  town,  and  a  separate  parcel 
of  three  acres  called  "  Euthven's  Folly." 

This  was  the  last  deed,  and  he  had  reserved  it  for  the  last, 
because  it  was  bulky.  He  was  attracted  by  the  description, 
which  was  very  elaborate,  giving  the  streets  that  passed  through 
it,  and  the  numbers  of  the  lots  on  the  city  map,  and  then,  quoting 
from  former  transfers,  gave  the  courses  and  distances  as  of  a 
farm,  and  finally  referred  to  a  still  prior  deed,  in  which  the  name 
of  the  tract  was  given,  "  Euthven's  Folly."  The  deed  recited  the 
transfer,  "  being  the  same  land  conveyed  by  Arnold  Grey  and 
wife  to  Norman  Euthven,  and  recorded,  &c." 

Here  was  a  discovery !  The  Normans,  and  Greys,  and  Euth- 
vens,  had  made  these  transfers  two  or  three  generations  ago. 

He  read  the  deed  all  over  again.  It  was  a  transfer  from 
Norman  Euthven  and  wife,  Helen,  to  John  Norman,  and  referred 
to  a  mortgage  debt  due  by  the  former,  which  was  cancelled  by 
the  transfer.  It  also  referred  to  a  bond  of  conveyance  from 
Norman  to  Euthven,  by  which  provision  was  made  for  the  re- 
transfer  of  "  Euthven's  Folly."  upon  the  fulfilment  of  the  bond, 
the  terms  of  which  were  not  recited  5  and  at  the  bottom  of  the 
deed  there  was  a  formal  relinquishment  of  the  rights  conveyed  in 
the  said  bond,  for  the  consideration  of  ten  thousand  dollars,  duly 
paid,  receipt  of  which  was  therein  acknowledged.  This  was 
signed  by  Helen  Euthven,  widow,  and  Darcy  Euthven,  heirs  of 
Norman  Euthven,  deceased,  and  witnessed  by  Philemon  Coke, 
and  then  the  signature  of  the  Surrogate. 

Darcy  was  devoured  with  curiosity  to  see  that  bond  of  convey 
ance  and  learn  its  provisions.  He  knew  enough  law  to  infer  that 
these  late  signatures  were  added  twenty  years  after  the  ori 
ginal  deed  had  been  made,  for  the  purpose  of  perfecting  a  title 
that  was  possibly  defective  without  them.  While  he  pondered 
these  matters,  he  heard  Helen's  voice  in  the  hall  below,  and 
sweeping  all  the  papers  into  the  drawer,  he  went  out  and  met  her 
on  the  stairs. 

"  I  am  glad  to  meet  you,  Miss  Harding,"  he  said :  "  I  heard  you 
had  headache.  I  hope  it  is  gone." 

« It  is  better." 

"  Will  you  please  come  down  into  the  parlor  j  that  is,  if  you  are 


104  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

well  enough.    I  want  some  information,  which  you  can  probably 
give  me." 

She  followed  him  down  stairs,  and  into  the  parlor.  Mrs.  Camp 
was  sewing,  and  Mr.  Camp  was  seeking  a  rhyme  for  "  breath" 
with  knitted  brows.  He  had  read  "  Hail,  gentle  Spring,"  to  his 
wife  forty-eight  times,  and  she,  good  woman,  had  listened  atten 
tively  every  time,  and  smiled  approval  at  ea'ch  dismal  repetition. 
He  was  going  to  offer  the  "lines"  to  Fiddler's  Monthly,  when 
completed,  but  they  were  still  in  the  singular  number.  That 
"  balmy  breath"  termination  of  the  initial  line  had  smothered  the 
poem  before  it  was  born.  Darcy  politely  addressed  a  few  sen 
tences  to  Mrs.  Camp,  and  then  drew  a  chair  to  the  opposite 
window,  where  Helen  was  standing. 

"  Take  this  seat,"  he  said ;  "  I  will  not  detain  you  long.  The 
questions  I  ask  are  for  the  purpose  of — of  unravelling  some  legal 
matters.  Did  Colonel  Ruthven  ever  say  anything  to  you  about 
some  New  York  property  in  which  he  was  interested  P 

Helen  started.    "  Who  told  you  about  it  ?"  she  asked. 

"  No  one." 

tl  How  came  you  to  know  of  any  such  property  ?" 

"  By  accident.  Do  not  ask  me.  And  do  not  answer  any  ques 
tion  that  I  should  not  ask.  I  have  seen  certain  papers,  but  not 
all  that  I  need.  If  you  do  not  object  to  the  question " 

u  Father  told  me  once,  I  don't  know  how  long  ago,  that  he 
would  have  inherited  some  valuable  property  in  New  York,  but 
for  some  fraudulent  transaction  of  which  he  was  the  victim.  It 
was  at  the  beginning  of  the  war,  and  I  remember  he  said  he 
would  perhaps  have  the  pleasure  of  applying  the  torch  to  the 
property  wrested  from  him." 

"  Did  he  say  his  rights  were  entirely  gone  ?"  asked  Darcy. 

"  Yes.  And  yet  he  said  the  present  owners  were  willing  to  pay 
him  something,  if  he  would  accept  it." 

"  And  he  would  not  I" 

li  Oh,  no !  I  think  there  was  an  offer  made  to  him  by  a  lawyer. 
But  there  were  some  conditions  annexed  which  he  rejected.  Will 
you  tell  me  how  you  happen  to  know " 

"  I  cannot  tell  you.  I  am  bound  to  secresy.  Hereafter  I  will 
tell  you  all  I  know,  probably,  as  the  injunction  will  be  removed 
by  and  by." 

"  Then  I  will  tell  you,"  said  Helen,  rising.  "  You  have  received 
these  papers  from  one  who  is  intent  upon  the  attainment  of  a 
solitary  object  ?" 


THE  WANDERERS  RETURN.  105 

• 

Darcy,  stricken  dumb,  looked  at  her  in  amazement. 

11  And  that  object  is  to  secure  possession  of  property  held  by 
kindred,  and  to  secure  it  either  by  some  legal  trick  or  by  the 
practice  of  actual  deceit." 

The  blood  mounted  up  to  Darcy's  temples,  as  he  noted  the 
tokens  of  hot  indignation  in  her  voice  and  manner.  A  dozen 
speeches  rushed  to  his  lips,  but  remembering  Nina's  charge,  he 
maintained  silence. 

11  And  3Tou,"  continued  Helen,  in  low,  distinct  tones,  scarcely 
above  a  whisper,  "  and  you  !  Darcy  Ruthven  Gaston !  Can  it  be 
possible  that  you  are  aiding  in  this  villainous  scheme?  Oh! 
what  would  your  father  say  if  he  were  alive  ?  What  would  my 
father  say  ?  What  will  Henry  Gaston  say  when  he  hears  of  your 
first  exploit  in  this  wicked  city  1  Oh !  you  make  me  more  thorough 
ly  wretched  than  ever." 

And  sweeping  by  him,  she  passed  out,  and  while  he  still  stood 
stupefied  by  her  dreadful  words,  he  heard  her  close  the  door  up 
stairs  with  a  crash. 


CHAPTEK  XXII. 
THE  WANDERER'S  RETURN. 

WHEX  Dutchy  and  his  compagnon  de  voyage  reached  the  hut 
on  the  river  bank,  they  were  both  pretty  well  exhausted  by 
their  tramp  through  the  deep  snow.  A  fire  was  soon  crackling  in  the 
little  stove,  and  the  shanty  reeking  with  unaccustomed  perfume 
from  the  Partagas.  Dutchy,  squatted  in  a  corner,  with  his  cap 
pulled  down  over  his  eyes,  was  blinking  at  the  other,  wondering 
whether  he  had  really  come  down  the  cliff,  or  had  suddenly  risen 
out  of  the  ground,  under  the  High  Bend.  In  either  case  he  was 
a  mysterious  personage.  If  he  had  come  over  the  cliff  he  must  be 
akin  to  the  angelic  host,  as  no  mortal  could  possibly  take  such  a 
slide  and  escape  death !  And  if  he  had  risen  from  beneath,  there 
was  some  dim  apprehension  in  Dutchy's  mind  that  good  people 
did  not  inhabit  the  locality  known  as  u  down  below." 

Seated  upon  a  block,  and  propped  up  against  the  wall  of  the 
cabin,  Mr.  Grey  meditated.  He  did  not  know  exactly  what  to  do 
with  Dutchy.  If  any  special  rascality,  requiring  brute  force  and 
bull-dog  courage  in  its  performance,  were  to  be  done,  he  knew  in- 


106  FL^SH  AND  SPIRIT. 

stinctively  that  Dutchy  would  prove  an  efficient  agent.  But  be 
was  restive  under  restraint,  and  possibly  not  trustworthy.  Grey 
did  not  indulge  in  any  sentimental  dreams  about  gratitude  or  dis 
interested  attachment,  even  if  he  had  any  claims  upon  the  uncouth 
mortal  in  the  corner. 

"  Not  many  travellers  upon  this  road,  I  presume  T  said  he  at 
last. 

"Nary  road,"  answered  Dutchy,  seutentiously,  "nary  trav 
ellers." 

"  How  shall  we  go  to  get  out  of  this  happy  valley  ?"  asked  Grey, 
after  another  pause. 

"  Can  git  on  the  track,  just  up  yonder,"  replied  Dutchy,  jerking 
his  thumb  over  his  shoulder.  "  Or  can  git  a  boat,  pole  across  the 
river,  and  git  into  Pikeville.  Railroad  bridge  over  the  river ;  sta 
tion  at  Pikeville.  'Commodation  trains  all  stop." 

"  Pikeville !"  said  Grey.  "  Yes,  I  remember.  Suppose  we  visit 
Pikeville  after  resting  awhile  here  f  Then  we  can  take  the  first 
train  in  the  morning." 

"  Fust  train  which  way  P  said  Dutchy,  cautiously. 

"  East,  of  course !  New  York !  Does  anybody  want  you  in  New 
York  V ' 

"  Shouldn't  wonder,"  responded  Dutchy,  with  a  grin. 

"  Well,  then,  New  York  is  your  safest  locality.  Nobody  will 
dream  of  looking  for  you  there,  and  if  they  do " 

"  Well  ?" 

"  Then  we  could  try  a  little  bail,  or  a  little  grease.  I  think  I 
can  promise  you  safety  there.  I  may  want  you  to  attend  to  some 
business  for  me.  It  is  getting  quite  comfortable  here !  I  believe 
the  stove  gives  light  enough  to  distinguish  the  pictures  !  Do  you 
understand  these  f 

"  Keards !"  said  Dutchy.  "  I'm  in  !  Euchre  or  poker !  Who'd 
a  thought  of  playin'  keards  in  this  hole !  I  haven't  touched  a 
keard  for  a  spell !  What  is  it  ?  Euchre  deck  f 

"  Yes,"  answered  Grey,  laughing ;  "  draw  up  a  block  and  we'll 
see  what  you  know.  Cut !  By-the-by,  my  friend,  suppose  you 
wash  your  hands  a  little  !  You  have  gotten  some  smut  on  your 
fingers,  and  will  mark  the  backs  of  the  cards.  I  forget  what  you 
said  your  name  was  ?" 

"  Bloke !"  answered  Dutchy,  promptly. 

"  Ah,  Bloke ;  and  where  from  ?" 

"  Pittsburgh,"  replied  Dutchy,  who  had  never  visited  that  popu 
lous  city. 


TEE  WANDERERS  EETUEN.  107 

"  And  bow  came  you  in  New  York  ?    First  Jack.    Your  deal.7* 

"  Went  to  New  York  to  get  my  brother  out  of  a  difFkilty.  He 
was  a  Gov'inent  contractor,  and  had  to  give  security.  J  went  se 
curity  and " 

"  Spades !    I  pass.    Well  ?    You  went  security V 

"  And  he  busted,  cuss  him  !    And  I  had  to  skedaddle." 

Mr.  Grey  regarded  the  capitalist  with  undisguised  admiration. 
The  probabilities  in  the  case  did  not  disturb  him  in  the  least  j 
but  the  readiness  with  which  Dutchy  conveyed  the  information 
charmed  him. 

"  And  you  have  been  living  in  this  neighbourhood  since  ?"  said 
he. 

"No.  Went  to  Gal  iforny;  got  back  last  week.  Been  specula- 
tin'  in  town  lots.  What  are  we  bettin'  on  this  game  F 

"  Five  dollars,"  answered  Grey,  laying  a  greenback  on  the 
block  that  served  for  a  table.  "  My  deal." 

"  Pass  !"  said  Dutchy.  "  You  take  it  up  ?  Both  bowers  and 
ace ;  that  makes  four.  My  deal." 

"  You  have  better  luck  with  me  than  you  had  with  your  security 
business — pass!  Ah,  you  win!  Game  number  one.  Here  is 
another  five." 

At  the  end  of  an  hour  their  second  cigars  were  smoked  out 
and  Dutchy  was  twenty-five  dollars  richer.  Mr.  Grey  put  the 
cards  in  his  pocket  and  proposed  walking.  They  found  the  boat, 
which  Dutchy  borrowed,  by  pulling  out  the  staple,  leaving  the 
chain  and  lock  upon  the  bank.  There  was  some  ice  in  the  river,  but 
they  had  little  difficulty  in  reaching  the  opposite  shore.  Leaving 
the  boat  to  drift  with  the  current,  they  plodded  through  the  snow, 
and  reached  Pikeville  before  the  dawn. 

"  Mr.  Bloke,"  said  Grey,  as  they  entered  the  village,  "  I  have 
decided  upon  my  course.  I  fell  over  that  cliff  back  yonder,  and  it 
will  be  unanimously  decided  that  I  am  dead.  Now,  I  think  of  re 
maining  dead  for  a  time.  What  will  be  said  when  they  look  for 
my  body  and  fail  to  find  it  P 

"  Fell  in  the  river  and  swept  away,"  answered  Dutchy.  u  If 
you  hadn't  fell  on  my  back,  and  broke  it,  you  would  have  gone 
into  the  river  at  the  next  bounce !" 

"  And  our  foot  prints  in  the  snow  f '  said  Grey. 

"  Foot  prints  !  Look  back  over  the  road ;  the  wind  is  blowing 
the  snow  every  which  way !  It  will  all  be  smooth  in  five  minutes. 
When  you  came  down  the  rock  was  bare  one  minute  and  covered 
with  a  drift  the  next  j  no  foot  prints  there  now." 


108  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT, 

"  And  the  cabin  ?" 

"  Same  thing.  Fire  will  be  out,  and  cabin  snowed  under,  just 
as  like  as  not." 

"  Well,"  said  Grey,  thoughtfully,  "  we  will  try  that  plan.  Your 
name  is  Bloke — mine  is  Blake." 

"  Werry  good  name,  Blake,"  said  Dutchy,  gravely ;  "  I  know'd 
a  gent  of  that  name  in  Pittsburgh.  Any  relation  o'  yourn  F 

"  Possibly,"  said  Grey;  "we  are  a  numerous  family.  Here  is 
the  station.  Hillo !  It  is  open.  We  can  go  in  and  get  thawed 
before  train  time." 

There  were  two  or  three  officials  in  the  waiting  room.  Dutchy 
slunk  behind  the  stove.  Mr.  Blake  accosted  them  with  easy 
grace. 

11  Good  morning,  gentlemen  !    When  will  we  get  a  train  east  F 

"  Fifteen  minutes.  Express  went  down  an  hour  ago.  Eoad 
clear,  but  all  trains  late.  Buiinin'  wildcat." 

"  What  train  will  we  take  F 

"  Ten  forty  accommodation.  That  is,  ten  forty  last  night.  Left 
Scrabbletown  twenty  minutes  ago.  Better  get  your  tickets." 

Grey  invested  the  necessary  amount,  tearing  the  ticket  he  had 
bought  at  the  beginning  of  his  journey  into  small  pieces.  Observ 
ing  Mr.  Bloke's  anxiety  to  keep  hidden,  he  obligingly  moved 
between  him  and  the  light.  Nobody  seemed  to  notice  them  par 
ticularly.  Bloke  recognized  all  the  men  as  acquaintances  when 
his  name  was  Smelzer.  When  the  belated  train  arrived  he  entered 
the  smoking  car,  followed  by  Grey,  found  a  vacant  seat,  and  the 
worthy  pair  indulged  in  refreshing  sleep,  while  the  train  gradu 
ally  worked  eastward.  At  one  of  the  stopping  places  ten  minutes 
were  allowed  for  "  breakfast."  Hot  coffee  and  sandwiches  were  to 
be  had  at  the  bar  counter.  Mr.  Bloke  had  a  raging  tooth,  and  his 
face  was  enveloped  in  a  red  handkerchief,  but  he  took  enough 
nutriment  to  last  him  the  day,  while  Mr.  Blake  nibbled  a  cracker 
and  imbibed  a  bottle  of  Scotch  ale.  Once  more  gliding  along, 
their  train  switching  off  every  hour  or  two,  to  allow  the  passage  of 
down  trains,  waiting  sometimes  an  hour  or  more,  as  they  were 
"  accommodation,"  and  therefore  bound  to  keep  out  of  the  way, 
but  gradually  approaching  the  great  city. 

"Mr.  Bloke,"  said  Grey,  "I  am  going  to  Brooklyn,  when  we 
arrive.  That  is,  after  dark.  Suppose  we  get  a  room  apiece,  in 
Jersey  City,  and  try  for  a  little  sleep — say,  till  eight  o'clock? 
Then  we  can  make  some  changes  in  our  habiliments,  and  go  to 
Brooklyn  by  gaslight.  What  say  you  F 


THE  WANDERERS  RETURN.  109 

"  All  right,  boss  !"  answered  Dutchy ;  tl  am  I  agoin'  to  Brook 
lyn  with  you  P 

"  Certainly.  I  cannot  tell  yet  what  amusement  I  can  provide 
for  you,  but  you  will  have  enough  to  eat,  and  shelter,  and  will  be 
out  of  reach  of  any  Government  officials  who  may  be  hunting  for 
that  security  money.  I  suppose  you  have  no  suspicion  that  / 
am  looking  for  you." 

"  No,"  answered  Dutchy,  slowly ;  "  you  aint  nary  cop,  and  you 
aint  nary  Gov'ment  officer.  You  are  up  to  som.e  game,  but  I  can't 
guess  wot  it  is.  I'm  not  afeard  of  you,  'cause  you  want  me  for 
somethin'  or  other.  Don't  know  wot,  and  don't  care  !" 

"  You  are  partly  right,  Mr.  Bloke,"  said  Grey,  coolly ;  "  I  think 
I  can  find  occupation  for  you.  Meantime,  let  us  have  a  little  gush 
of  confidence.  I  have  reasons  for  hiding  at  present,  though 
nobody  is  looking  for  me.  You  have  a  similar  desire,  because 
several  persons  are  looking  for  you." 

Dutchy  grinned  and  nodded. 

"  Well,"  continued  Grey,  "  I  suppose  your  searchers  are  chiefly 
cops  P 

"  Werry  likely,"  replied  Dutchy. 

"Now,  uothiug  can  be  more  simple  than  to  beguile  the  average 
cop.  You  have  only  to  squat  down  under  his  nose  and  you  are 
safe.  I  will  arrange  your  attire  to-morrow  in  such  a  fashion 
as  to  defy  scrutiny.  Let  me  see  ?  Have  you  had  any  military 
experience  P 

Dutchy  winced.  He  remembered  how  he  had  "  shouldered 
arms"  with  a  log  baby.  This  Mr.  Blake  might  be  a  cussed  leften- 
ant,  after  all. 

"  Don't  know  what  you  mean,"  he  grunted  surlily ;  ll  I  belonged 
to  a  wolunteer  company  in  Pittsburgh,  some  years  back,  but  I  had 
enough  of  sogerin' !" 

"Have  you  speculated  in  bounties,  for  example  P  said  the  other, 
with  a  quiet  laugh.  "  Ah !  Mr.  Bloke,  I  am  afraid  you  have 
defrauded  your  bleeding  country !  Never  mind,  man !  she  is  able 
to  stand  a  large  amount  of  bleeding,  and  in  the  near  future  the 
most  successful  citizens  will  be  those  who  bleed  her  most  lavishly. 
You  have  only  anticipated  a  little.  Some  geniuses  are  born  too 
soon." 

"  Don't  know  uothin'  about  it,"  responded  Dutchy.  "  What 
kind  o'  sogerin'  do  you  want  P 

"  Oh  !    nothing  of   importance.      A  certain  familiarity  with 


110  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

soldier  phrases,  and  some  slight  knowledge  of  camp  life ;  drill, 
sentry  duty,  guard  house,  and  the  like." 

"  I  could  laru  all  them,"  said  Dutchy. 

"  Very  well.  I  will  unfold  my  plan  to-night.  And  now  I  am 
going  to  try  for  a  nap.  Waken  me  when  we  reach  Jersey  City." 

When  these  companions  crossed  the  river  that  night,  Mr.  Grey 
wore  a  second  hand  white  overcoat  and  a  felt  hat  with  a  wide 
brim.  His  trim,  black  moustache  was  concealed  under  a  fiery  red 
one,  with  side  whiskers  to  match.  Dutchy  had  on  a  suit  of  half- 
worn  soldier  clothes,  with  the  inevitable  blue  overcoat  and  cape. 
His  left  arm  was  gone,  and  the  empty  sleeve  was  pinned  grace 
fully  across  his  breast.  His  right  foot  was  encased  in  enormous 
bandages,  and  he  hobbled  along  in  ungainly  fashion,  on  a  crutch. 
If  the  bandaged  foot  happened  to  touch  the  ground  he  groaned 
dismally. 

"  Piece  o'  howitzer  shell  in  the  ancle  jint,"  he  observed 
to  a  sympathizing  old  gentleman  in  the  cabin  ;  "  got  it  at 
Getty  sburgh." 

The  old  gentleman  slipped  a  ten  cent  note  in  his  ready  hand, 
sighing  over  the  ingratitude  of  a  country  that  made  no  better  pro 
vision  for  its  martyrs. 

They  stopped  in  Brooklyn  at  a  house  in  a  quiet  street  not  very 
distant  from  the  ferry.  Dutchy  was  able  to  read  the  inscription 
on  the  door  plate  while  they  waited  for  the  response  to  their  ring. 
It  was,  "Doctor  Lamis,  Test  Medium.  Seances,  Wednesdays 
and  Saturdays,  at  8  P.  M." 


CHAPTER  XXHL 
WATCHED. 

AFTER  his  brief  interview  with  Helen,  Darcy  returned  to  his 
room  feeling  very  much  like  the  man  who  was  shot  out  of  a 
coal  car  into  a  huge  hopper,  and  who  found  himself  in  a  heap  of 
the  black  diamonds  at  the  bottom,  after  sundry  revolutions,  and 
read  the  inscription  over  his  resting  place — "  Screened,  riddled 
and  broken."  He  mechanically  took  out  the  title  deeds  again,  and 
set  to  work  anew.  Once  and  again  he  took  up  the  sealed  enve 
lope,  but  remembering  Nina's  injunction  to  reserve  it  for  the  last 


WATCHED.  Ill 

• 
• 

work,  and  being  a  true  gentleman,  he  was  compelled  to  lay  it 
aside  without  investigation.  He  felt  that  he  had  not  yet  mastered 
the  details  in  the  other  papers.  The  night  was  clear  and  cold,  and 
he  suddenly  resolved  to  walk  out  to  the  locality  described  as 
Ruthven's  Folly,  and  examine  it  by  moonlight.  The  streets  were 
named  in  the  deed,  and  he  could  easily  get  information  as  to  the 
exact  site  from  policemen. 

The  cold  air  revived  him,  and  the  blessed  elasticity  of  youth  en 
abled  him  to  throw  off  the  numbness  induced  by  Helen's  heavy 
blows.  He  was  conscious  ol  pure  integrity  of  purpose,  but  felt  his 
cheek  grow  hot  at  the  thought  of  aiding  in  fraud,  however  inno 
cently.  And  the  suspicion  that  he  was  led  into  evil  by  Nina,  who 
seemed  so  open  and  ingenuous,  stung  him  to  the  quick.  You  can 
not  put  a  worse  affront  upon  a  youth  of  generous  impulses  than 
beguile  him  by  a  woman's  agency,  especially  if  she  be  young  and 
attractive. 

"  She  thinks  I  will  be  so  impressed  by  the  tokens  of  wealth 
around  her,"  he  thought,  "  and  by  the  details  in  these  papers, 
that  I  will  not  dare  resist  her.  So  obstinate  and  wilful !  And  she 
has  mistaken  the  natural  sympathy  enkindled  by  her  sad  face  and 
wearied  manner  for  a  softer  emotion.  Perhaps  yonder  hint  of  hers, 
to  avoid  her  for  a  week,  was  to  warn  me  against  too  much  pre 
sumption  !  And  yet  she  is  willing  to  exert  whatever  influence  she 
has  gained  over  me  to  make  me  help  her  in  her  mysterious  schem 
ing  !  What  devil's  work  can  she  purpose  ?  What  can  Helen  know 
about  it?  How  could  Helen  learn  as  much  as  she  evidently 
knows  !  By  George  !  How  lovely  she  looked  when  she  was  be 
labouring  me  so  cruelly  !  It  would  be  profitable  to  get  her  into  a 
good  rage  every  day  and  so  wear  away  her  melancholy.  She 
looked  exactly  like  her  father  looked  that  morning  when  he 
plucked  out  his  sabre  and  rode  down  upon  the  enemy  !  '  Villain 
ous  scheme !'  she  said.  And  she  politely  referred  me  to  Tige  Gas- 
ton.  Oh  !  if  I  only  had  Tige  Gaston  here !  But  I  could  not  tell 
him  a  word,  as  that  she-angel  has  bound  me  up  as  tightly  as  I 
would  be  under  oath  !  I'll  go  mad  if  I  think  any  more  about  it ! 
I'll  dismiss  the  topic  and  look  at  the  sights  in  the  streets,  and  tackle 
it  afresh  to-morrow  night." 

He  was  walking  up  Broadway,  several  squares  above  the  Fifth 
Avenue  Hotel,  and  there  were  not  many  unusual  sights  to  attract 
his  attention.  He  paused  at  a  window  to  look  at  some  water-col 
our  views,  and,  while  thus  engaged,  he  heard  the  dismal  wail  of  a 
hand  organ  near  the  picture  shop. 


112  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

• 

A  one  armed  man,  turning  the  crank,  grinding  out  an  asthmatic 
polka.  He  was  clad  in  a  blue  military  overcoat,  rather  the  worse 
for  wear.  One  foot  was  swathed  in  bandages,  and  a  crutch  lay 
beside  him  on  the  pavement.  He  looked  forlorn  enough,  and  Dar- 
cy's  sympathies  were  excited.  He  approached  the  man  and  ac 
costed  him : 

"  Cold  we'ather,  my  friend  !"  he  said.  "  You  look  like  a  soldier. 
Have  you  been  in  the  army  P 

"  Cold  enough,  sir  !"  answered  the  organ-grinder.  "  Army  ?  I 
should  think  I  had  !  One  arm  gone  and  t'other  pretty  nigh  worked 
off  turnin'  this  cussed  crank  !  I  fit  for  the  country  though  !" 

"  So  did  I — a  little.    Where  have  you  left  your  arm  !" 

"  Gettysburg,"  answered  the  other,  promptly.  "  Them  rebs 
guv  us  fits  there !  Thankee,  sir  !  This  is  the  first  shin-plaster  I've 
got  to-day.  Most  people  drop  a  peony,  when  they  drop  auythink. 
Most  of  all  don't  drop  nothink  !" 

"  What  corps  were  you  inP  asked  Darcy,  glancing  at  the  man's 
cap. 

"  The  cavaltry,"  replied  the  soldier ;  "  hoss  killed  by  a  shell. 
Was  taking  the  saddle  to  the  rear,  when  another  shell  took  my 
arm.  Don't  remember  nothink  else,  'cept  the  horspittle.  Laid  up 
four  weeks." 

"  Who  commanded  your  corps  V  persisted  Darcy. 

"  Don't  remember  his  name.  He  was  a  wolunteer  giner.il.  He 
got  hurted  too.  Disremember  his  name ;  think  it  was  Jones." 

"  What  ails  your  foot  P  said  Darcy. 

"  Minnie  ball  in  it.  The  doctor  rammed  and  poked  about  for  it 
half  a  day ;  couldn't  find  it.  Anyhow,  I  was  done  up,  and  they 
sent  me  on  to  New  York." 

A  tall,  slender  man  stopped  to  listen  to  the  last  remark.  He 
had  keen,  almond-shaped  black  eyes,  and  a  profusion  of  red  beard 
covering  his  mouth  and  chin,  and  flowing  over  his  breast.  There 
was  a  jaunty  air  about  him,  in  spite  of  his  dilapidated  appearance, 
in  a  white,  seedy  overcoat  and  a  broad  brimmed  felt  hat.  He 
looked  fixedly  at  Darcy  a  moment  and  then  addressed  the  soldier. 

"  Well,  comrade !"  he  said,  "  you  have  selected  a  cool  evening  for 
your  promenade  !  Had  any  luck  to-day  P 

u  Got  about  two  shillin'  in  pennies,  and  this  gentleman  gave  me 
a  dime  note.  I'm  goin'  further  down  town  ;"  and  he  gathered  up 
his  crutch,  swung  his  organ  on  his  back  and  stumped  away,  down 
the  street,  followed  by  the  last  comer.  Darcy  resumed  his 
brisk  walk  up  Broadway  and  was  soon  lost  to  view. 


WATCHED.  113 

"  Did  you  notice  that  man  F  asked  the  gentleman  with  the  red 
beard,  as  he  walked  slowly  by  the  side  of  the  soldier. 

"  Yes." 

"  Would  you  know  him  again  ?"  said  the  other,  eagerly. 

"  Certainly.  Not  many  men  like  him.  He  would  be  an  ugly 
cuss  to  tackle  in  a  scuffle.  Do  you  know  him  ?" 

"  I  think  I  do.  He  would  not  be  apt  to  recognize  you,  if  you 
were  fixed  up  a  little.  I  shall  want  you  to  watch  him." 

"  What  fur?"  said  the  lame  man,  gruffly. 

"  No  matter.  To  see  that  he  don't  take  cold.  You  get  along 
pretty  well  with  your  crutch.  He  will  be  likely  to  come  back 
this  way.  Give  me  your  organ,  and  keep  your  eyes  open.  If  he 
should  return,  follow  him  and  see  where  he  goes.  Thunder  1 
Why  this  thing  weighs  half  a  ton.  I  can't  carry  it." 

"Better^ leave  it  with  me,"  replied  the  soldier.  "I  can  get  rid 
of  it,  not  fur  off.  I'll  put  it  away,  and  come  back  here.  How 
long  must  I  wait  F 

"  An  hour  or  so,"  said  the  other ;  "  say  until  ten  o'clock.  I'll 
walk  a  little  way  after  him  now.  Maybe  I  can  overtake  him." 

But  he  underrated  Darcy's  pedestrian  powers.  The  night  was 
cold,  and  he  walked  the  more  briskly  on  that  account.  When 
the  stranger  had  passed  five  or  six  squares,  he  gave  up  the  chase 
in  disgust.  He  was  wise,  as  Darcy  was  moving  about  five  feet  to 
his  four. 

The  number  of  a  cross  street  was  painted  on  the  lamp  at  the 
corner,  and  Darcy  found  himself  in  the  vicinity  of  the  property 
he  was  looking  for.  The  houses  were  new,  and  many  of  them 
unoccupied,  and  the  street  had  a  generally  new  appearance. 
Here  and  there  he  saw  vacant  lots,  with  masses  of  rock  cropping 
out  of  the  ground,  in  sharp  contrast  with  the  trim,  new  houses  in 
the  neighborhood.  The  cross-streets  were  not  curbed,  and  he  was 
somewhat  bewildered,  as  he  was  beyond  the  region  of  brilliantly 
lighted  shops.  But  a  few  questions  to  a  stately  policeman  gained 
him  the  requisite  information,  and  he  was  able  to  identify  the 
tract  with  tolerable  accuracy. 

The  most  of  it  was  vacant  land,  though  there  were  two  un 
finished  houses  with  brown-stone  fronts  on  one  of  the  corners. 
The  doors  and  windows  were  boarded  up,  and  little  snow  heaps 
lay  on  the  sills.  Darcy  stepped  the  boundaries,  and  estimated 
the  area,  remembering  the  general  descriptions^  in  the  deed,  and 
then  turned  his  face  towards  his  lodgings. 

8 


114  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

"  This  property  is  or  will  be  very  valuable,"  he  thought,  as  he 
approached  the  more  populous  part  of  the  city ;  "  and  it  will  not 
be  easy  to  ascertain  the  value.  I  must  get  acquainted  with  some 
real  estate  broker.  When  I  get  to  Camden  street,  I'll  go  to  bed, 
and  quit  thinking  about  things.  And  to-morrow  night  I'll  take 
another  careful  survey  of  those  papers,  and  perhaps  get  to  the 
sealed  envelope." 

Passing  the  Fifth  Avenue  Hotel,  he  thought  he  would  walk 
through  the  passages  once  or  twice,  and  get  thawed.  The  house 
was  warm,  and  the  bar-room  was  full.  He  strolled  about  aim 
lessly  a  few  minutes,  and  then  pushing  the  swing  door  back,  he 
brushed  past  the  red  whiskered  man  in  the  white  overcoat.  He 
was  just  conscious  that  he  had  seen  him  before,  and  did  not  look 
directly  at  him,  but  he  thought  the  other  drew  back  rather  more 
than  was  needful  to  give  him  egress.  A  minute  later  he  was  on 
the  street,  and  there,  standing  by  the  lamp-post,  was  the  lame 
warrior,  leaning  on  his  crutch,  but  without  his  organ.  As  Darcy 
passed  him,  he  heard  the  clump  of  the  crutch,  following. 

"  That  fellow  wants  another  ten  cent  note,"  said  the  youth  to 
himself,  "but  won't  get  it.  I  must  husband  my  resources,  and 
not  duplicate  my  charities.  Besides,  I  have  an  uncomfortable 
suspicion  that  he  was  lying  about  the  <•  cavaltry.'  He  is  a  good 
walker,  if  he  has  a  game  leg.  I  have  half  a  mind  to  put  him  on 
his  mettle.  I  will,  by  George  *?  Let  us  see  what  he  can  do  !" 

And  stretching  his  long  legs  to  their  best  stride,  he  walked 
straight  down  Broadway,  darting  out  of  the  way  of  passengers 
who  were  going  in  the  opposite  direction.  Fifteen  minutes 
brought  him  to  the  Saint  Nicholas  Hotel,  and  without  pausing,  he 
entered  the  passage.  As  he  let  the  door  swing  back,  he  distinctly 
heard  the  clump  of  the  crutch  behind  him.  He  walked  through 
the  long  passage,  into  the  billiard-room,  and  getting  a  seat  in  a 
remote  corner,  watched  the  door.  In  two  minutes  after  his  arrival, 
be  saw  the  almond  shaped  eyes  and  red  beard. 

"  This  is  not  accident,"  thought  he ;  "  these  rascals  are  follow 
ing  me  for  some  purpose.  And  now  to  baffle  them." 

He  walked  quietly  out,  passing  the  stranger,  who  was  absorbed 
in  a  game  at  a  near  table,  and  apparently  unconscious  of  Darcy's 
existence.  He  waited  at  the  entrance  to  the  elevator  a  moment 
and  then  entered,  and  ascended  to  the  third  floor.  Coming  imme 
diately  down  the  side  staircase,  lie  gained  the  parlor  floor,  and 
walked  gingerly  out  at  the  ladies'  entrance.  The  lame  soldier 


A  NEW  DEPARTURE.  115 

was  at  the  main  door,  watching,  and  Darcy  sped  down  the  street 
at  a  great  pace.  And  when  he  let  himself  in  at  Cam  den  street, 
with  his  night  key,  there  was  no  other  passenger  visible  in  the 
quiet  street.  And  the  red  whiskered  man  was  inquiring  at  the 
office  desk,  if  Mr.  Gaston,  of  Lexington,  Kentucky,  was  a  guest 
at  the  house,  and  seemed  incredulous  when  answered  in  the 
negative. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 
A  NEW  DEPARTURE. 

DARCY  did  not  regret  the  absence  of  fire  in  his  room,  as  he 
disrobed  and  prepared  for  bed.  His  race  had  set  the  vital 
current  in  rapid  motion,  and  he  was  aglow  when  he  slipped  in  be 
tween  the  cold  sheets. 

u  Now,  then,"  he  thought,  "  the  plot  begins  to  thicken.  Let  me 
think  the  matter  over.  That  whiskered  chap  knew  the  soldier. 
It  struck  me,  when  he  first  accosted  him,  that  they  were  acquaint 
ances.  Then  they  were  together  at  the  Fifth  Avenue  Hotel ;  then 
at  the  Saint  Nicholas.  It  was  a  sharp  dodge,  as  Mr.  Skillet  would 
say,  to  go  up  three  floors,  and  then  out  at  the  side  door.  I  have 
certainly  baffled  them  for  the  nonce.  Now,  the  question !  Who 
are  they  f  what  are  they  after? 

"  That  one-armed  rascal  is  certainly  a  stranger ;  but  whenever 
I  think  of  the  black-eyed  one,  it  seems  to  me  that  we  have  met 
before.  I  must  track  back,  and  see  if  I  can  recall  him.  He  was 
smoking ;  and  while  I  watched  him  in  the  billiard-room,  I  noticed 
a  peculiarity,  when  he  took  his  cigar  out  of  his  mouth  and  when 
he  replaced  it.  That  is,  he  poked  out  his  arm  as  though  his  coat 
sleeve  cramped  his  motions,  and  then  slowly  bent  his  elbow  until 
he  reached  his  ugly  mug.  There  was  an  air  of  importance  and  of 
perfect  self  satisfaction  about  him  that  was  aggravated  by  that 
peculiarity.  But,  pshaw !  I  have  seen  over  a  dozen  jackasses  do 
the  very  same  thing.  There  was  that  first-class  jackass,  Spooner, 
at  college,  who  entered  the  Soph,  class  with  a  plug  hat.  He 
used  to  crook  his  arm  in  precisely  the  same  fashion,  and  he 
thought  he  was  the  biggest  man  in  the  class.  When  the  fellows 
wished  to  make  an  extravagant  bet,  they  used  to  say  '  Spooner's 
estimate  of  his  own  value.'  And  Squizzem,  too ;  he  poked  his 


116  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

arms  out  in  just  the  same  style  when  he  was  giving  me  that  second 
hand  lecture.  I  cannot  identify  the  black-eyed  scamp  on  this 
track ;  he  has  too  many  congeners. 

"  Black-eyed !  bold,  bad  eyes ;  insolent !  I  felt  my  temper  ris 
ing  when  he  looked  so  steadily  at  me.  If  we  meet  again,  I'll  try 
the  strength  of  his  eyes.  Pooh !  I  am  not  foolish  enough  to  get 
up  a  quarrel  for  nothing.  I  cannot  identify  the  man.  He  is  just 
the  embodiment  of  cold-blooded  effrontery. 

"  Next.  What  was  he  after  ?  Me !  Well,  what  did  he  want  ? 
Did  he  intend  to  pick  my  pocket  ?  Do  I  look  like  a  green  coun 
tryman,  I  wonder?  It  could  not  be  that.  While  I  do  not  seem 
particularly  impecunious,  I  do  not  carry  any  tokens  of  affluence 
about  me.  He  was  after  something  else.  Ah !  I  have  a  clue. 

li  Miss  Norman's  affairs.  This  fellow  has  been  put  on  my  track 
by  some  one  interested  in  the  settlement  of  the  estate.  Let  me 
fix  that  idea  clearly  in  my  mind,  and  then  I'll  go  to  sleep. 

"  She  is  intent  upon  one  scheme.  And  this  scheme  in  some 
way  runs  counter  to  other  interests.  By  George !  I'll  go  see  her 
to-morrow,  and  tell  her  I  must  know  more,  or  quit  her  service. 
But  I  cannot  do  that,  poor  girl.  I  cannot  be  so  rude.  Ah !  How 
could  Helen  say  such  cruel  things  about  her  ? 

"  Have  these  two  women  met  ?  Impossible.  Yet,  how  could 
Helen  know  of  Nina's  desire  to  gain  possession  of  certain  prop 
erty  ?  And  this  very  Euthven's  Folly  probably  is  the  property  in 
question.  Has  Helen  any  interest,  real  or  imaginary,  in  it  H  Im 
possible.  The  deeds  are  in  perfect  order,  and  the  transfer  of  title 
is  complete  and  final.  Indeed,  the  transfer  of  Darcy  Euthven 
and  his  mother  was  an  unnecessary  addendum  to  the  original 
document.  I  will  see  Miss  Euthven  in  the  morning,  and  get  more 
light.  And  now  for  sleep." 

The  morning  sun  wakened  Darcy  by  shining  on  his  face.  He 
rose  and,  dressing  rapidly,  descended  the  stairs,  and  met  Helen  in 
the  hall.  She  was  just  leaving  the  house. 

"  Allow  me  to  walk  a  little  way  with  you,"  he  said,  with  grave 
politeness ;  "  your  parting  words  last  night  demand  some  explana 
tion — from  me,  at  least,  and  perhaps  from  you  also." 

11 1  spoke  hastily,"  she  answered,  coldly,  "  but  I  meant  no 
offence."  • 

"  I  think  there  is  a  mistake  somewhere,"  said  Darcy ;  "  do  you 
know  that  I  have  been  a  law  student  ?  Well,  I  have,  and  proba 
bly  would  be  admitted  to  practice  with  some  slight  formalities  if 


A  NEW  DEPARTURE.  117 

I  should  make  the  effort.  The  matters  I  have  in  hand  are,  there 
fore,  entrusted  to  me  by  one  whom  I  may  call  my  client " 

"  Did  your  client  mention  me  P  said  Helen,  abruptly. 

"  No  ;  certainly  not." 

"  Are  you  at  liberty  to  tell  me  your  client's  name  I" 

"  I  think  not,"  answered  Darcy,  after  a  pause ;  "  may  I  ask  you 
if  there  is  a  name  by  which  you  can  identify  the  property  you 
spoke  of?" 

"  Yes,"  said  she,  promptly,  "  it  is  called  Euthven's  Folly." 

"  Ah  !  And  you  thought  I  was  working  against  your  inter 
ests " 

"  I  have  no  interests,"  she  answered,  vehemently.  "  I  will  never 
have  an  interest  in  this  land.  Certainly  not  by  the  means  you 
will  probably  employ.  I  will  not  be  a  party  to  a  scheme  that  is 
essentially  fraudulent,  and  I  have  already  announced  that  deter 
mination  as  emphatically  as  possible.  Please  say  to  your  client 
that  my  first  act,  if  the  property  were  forced  upon  me,  would  be 
to  donate  it  to  a  hospital." 

Darcy  walked  by  her  side,  silently  meditating.  In  due  time 
they  reached  Broadway,  and  Helen  stopped  at  the  door  of  Mr. 
Tilter's  establishment.  Darcy  glanced  at  the  sign,  "  J.  Tilter. 
Hoop  Skirts." 

"  You  stop  here,"  he  said.  "  Listen  to  a  word  more.  Do  you 
think  I  could  take  part  in  a  fraudulent  scheme  !" 

"  The  law,"  murmured  Helen,  "  the  law  may  be  clear,  when  the 
equity  is  doubtful.  My  father  has  often  told  me  that  a  lawyer 
was  bound  by  every  consideration  of  honour  to  stand  by  his 
client." 

"  But  your  father  would  never  have  a  rogue  for  a  client.  And 
if  I  ever  practice  law,  which  is  not  probable,  I  will  never  let  the 
law  excuse  me  for  advocating  injustice  or  fraud.  I  would  starve 
sooner.  And  I  am  perfectly  sure  that  my  client  would  not  swerve 
one  hair's  breadth  from  the  path  of  rectitude  to  obtain  possession 
of  ten  times  the  value  of  Kuthven's  Folly.  If  I  am  mistaken  in 
this,"  he  continued,  noticing  her  gesture  of  dissent,  "  I  am  surely 
not  mistaken  in  counting  myself  incapable  of  such  .baseness.  I 
would  not  dishonour  my  name,  even  to  regain  your  good  opinion. 
Good  morning." 

She  stood  in  the  doorway  watching  him  as  he  strode  down  the 
street.  He  was  evidently  wounded,  and  she  had  been  harsh  and 
petulant !  Could  she  be  mistaken,  or  was  he  misled  by  one  wiser 


118  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

and  unscrupulous  ?  Filled  with  doubts,  she  began  to  climb  the 
steps,  and  was  overtaken  at  the  second  landing  by  Mr.  Donis, 
coming  up  three  steps  at  a  time. 

"  Aha !  Miss  Harding,"  he  said,  with  a  grin,  "  you  have  been 
taking  a  mornin'  walk  with  a  feller,  after  all !" 

"  I  do  not  understand  you !"  said  Helen,  haughtily. 

"  Oh  !  we  need  not  put  on  any  airs !"  replied  Mr.  Donis,  taking 
off  his  glove.  "  Bless  you,  IVe  met  a  many  of  your  sort !  Shy  as 
a  kitten  and  skittish  as  a  colt  'till  the  right  feller  comes.  I  think 
you  might  be  a  little  more  friendly  with  me,  though  !  Come !  I'll 
say  nothin'  about  your  mornin'  walk ;  let  me  help  you  up  stairs," 
and  he  passed  his  arm  around  her  waist  with  a  chuckle. 

Helen  dashed  his  arm  down  very  much  as  she  would  have  shaken 
off  a  snake,  and,  after  a  momentary  hesitation,  turned  and  went 
down  stairs. 

" Time's  up!"  said  Mr.  Donis,  gayly,  as  she  reached  the  door. 
"  If  you  arn't  at  your  machine  in  five  minutes  you  will  be  docked 
two  shillin' !  He,  he  !  How  spunky  we  are,  to  be  sure  1"  and  he 
continued  the  ascent,  humming  "  Tramp,  tramp  !  the  boys  are 
marching  P 

"  This  cannot  be  endured  !"  said  Helen  to  herself,  when  she  re 
gained  the  street.  "  He  was  insolent  enough  before,  but  to  touch 
me  !  I'll  go  back  and  tell  Mrs.  Camp  !  No,  I  won't.  I'll  go  tell 
Mr.  Skillet;  but  it  is  too  early  to  find  him.  I  will  wait  until 
noon." 

A  troop  of  girls  came  thronging  in  the  doorway,  and,  joining 
them,  Helen  went  up  the  steps  once  more,  and  entered  upon  her 
regular  duties.  Mr.  Donis,  in  no  wise  abashed,  passed  her  twice 
or  thrice  during  the  morning  with  a  pleasant  smirk  on  his  face. 
He  was  too  noble  minded  to  harbour  resentment,  and,  in  fact,  con 
sidered  the  little  rebuff  he  had  met  on  the  stairs  as  the  inevitable 
preliminary  to  a  better  acquaintance.  It  was  a  little  curious  that 
Helen's  meditations  at  the  same  time  were  upon  the  question  as 
to  the  relative  degree  of  cruelty  involved  in  burning  him  at  a  slow 
fire,  or  drowning  him  in  a  shallow  pond  ;  and  upon  the  problem  : 
if  five  grains  of  strychnine  would  kill  a  big  dog,  how  many  grains 
would  kill  a  puppy.  If  the  puppy  had  been  endowed  with  the  or 
dinary  instinct  of  his  kind,  he  would  have  discovered  her  repug 
nance.  But  he  was  clad  in  the  triple  armour  of  conceit,  and  hap 
pily  unconscious. 

At  noon  Helen  extravagantly  spent  ten  cents  in  omnibus  fare, 


A  NEW  DEPARTURE.  119 

and  rode  down  to  Wall  street.  She  had  learned  Mr.  Skillet's  ad 
dress  from  Mrs.  Camp  a  day  or  two  before.  The  old  gentleman 
had  been  so  kind  to  her  that  she  felt  no  sort  of  hesitation  in  apply 
ing  to  him,  but  when  she  reached  his  office,  she  found  a  sudden  fit 
of  shyness  taking  possession  of  her.  She  would  probably  see  Mr. 
Gaston  if  she  went  in !  she  had  not  thought  of  that.  While  she 
doubted,  the  omnibus  rolled  on,  and  before  she  had  decided  what 
to  do  it  had  reached  the  ferry,  and  she  got  out  with  the  other  pas 
sengers. 

"  This  is  mere  weakness  P  she  murmured.  "  I  must  get  away 
from  that  horrible  den.  Mrs.  Camp  was  talking  last  night  about  the 
high  prices  paid  to  house  servants.  I  will  certainly  hire  myself  as 
seamstress  or  nurse  in  some  decent  family,  if  I  cannot  otherwise 
get  a.way  from  that  odious  brute  !  After  all,  it  would  only  be  a 
renewal  of  my  Cincinnati  life,  where  I  was  veritable  nurse  and 
seamstress,  though  I  was  called  a  l  governess.'  Fll  go  to  Mr.  Skil 
let  at  once  !" 

She  stood  aside  to  give  passage  to  a  troop  of  men  pouring  out 
of  the  ferry  gates.  After  the  first  burst  passed,  the  ladies  began 
to  appear,  and  among  them  a  prim-looking  damsel,  escorted  by  Mr. 
Skillet  himself.  The  old  gentleman  was  all  politeness  and  atten 
tion,  and  Helen  saw  him  assisting  the  lady  into  an  omnibus,  shak 
ing  hands  at  parting,  and  bowing  to  her  as  the  vehicle  drove  off. 
As  he  replaced  his  hat  Helen  touched  his  arm. 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Skillet,"  she  began,  "  I  am  so  glad  to  meet  you  here  P 

"  And  I  am  glad  to  see  you,"  he  responded,  shaking  hands  cor 
dially.  "  Why,  I  was  thinkin'  of  you  this  very  minute  !  Been  to 
Brooklyn  V 

"No,  sir;  I  came  down  here  to  see  you,  and  when  I  reached 
your  office — I — I  thought  I  could  not  go  in." 

u  It's  no  consequence  P  replied  Mr.  Skillet,  "  that  is,  I  told  'em 
I  should  not  be  back.  I  expected  to  stay  longer  to  Brooklyn,  but 
I  got  through  sooner  than  I  expected.  What's  up  ?" 

"  I  want  to  get  away  from  Mr.  Tilter's,  sir,  please,"  said  Helen, 
half  crying ;  "  I  think  I  would  like  to  sew  in  some  private  family, 
or  teach  children." 

"  Has  that  jackass  been  impudent  to  you  T  I  mean  that  young 
whelp." 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  I'll  put  a  head  onto  him  1"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  in  wrath ;  "  or  I'll 
tell  Dassy  !  Yes,  yes  !  I'll  tell  Dassy.  And  if  he  don't  have  on  a 
two-story  Mansard  before  night  I'm  a  Dutchman  !  that's  all  P 


120  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

"Please  don't  tell  anybody,  Mr.  Skillet,"  said  Helen,  "but  just 
find  me  some  hiding  place  where  nobody  can  find  me " 

"  Except  me  and  Dassy  f 

"  Except  you,  sir.  I  don't  want  Mr.  Gaston  to  know  where  I 
am  either,"  continued  Helen,  blushing.  "  I  don't  want  even  Mrs. 
Camp  to  know.  Oh  !  if  I  could  only  get  back  to  Cincinnati !" 

"  Well,  well !"  ejaculated  Mr.  Skillet,  "  this  bangs  the  witches  ! 
I  think  the  devil  has  broke  loose  !  But  it's  no  consequence  !  Why, 
my  child,  I  have  already  arranged  for  a  hiding  place  for  you, 
where  nobody  will  find  you,  and  I  was  going  up  to  old  Tilter  this 
very  afternoon  to  tell  you  about  it !  Git  in  this  'bus  and  go  home. 
Git  your  satchel  and  come  right  back  to  this  ferry.  I'll  meet  you 
at  three  o'clock,  right  in  there  at  the  ferry  house,  and  you  will  be 
as  snug  as  a  thief  in  a  mill  before  dark.  Don't  cry  now !  I  tell 
you  it  is  all  right.  Jest  keep  your  mouth  shet,  and  be  punctual. 
I'll  say  nauthin',  and  if  you  would  rather  not,  I  won't  put  a  head 
on  that  little  whelp  either.  Cuss  his  impudence !  Here  we  are  ! 
Good  inornin'  1  Three  o'clock,  sharp  !" 


CHAPTER    XXY. 
MR.  DONIS. 

BY  an  odd  coincidence,  it  happened  that  Darcy  Gaston  was 
engaged  in  pleasant  conference  with  Mr.  Donis  at  the  very 
moment  that  Mr.  Skillet  employed  in  delivering  objurgatory 
remarks  to  Helen  concerning  the  same  attractive  individual.  Mr. 
Tilter  had  sent  the  young  gentleman  to  Wall  street  to  purchase 
exchange  for  remittance  by  the  next  day's  steamer.  As  Mr. 
Tilter  was  an  "  associate  member"  of  the  Gold  Exchange,  Mr. 
Donis  had  the  entree  to  that  quiet  resort,  and  while  the  very  pillars 
shook  with  the  shouts  of  the  operators,  Darcy  was  introduced  by 
a  fellow  clerk,  with  whom  he  had  some  slight  acquaintance.  This 
last  mentioned  youth  was  also  an  occasional  "  operator,"  on  his 
own  account,  and  he  had  just  "  made  a  turn,"  that  is,  he  had 
bought  ten  thousand  dollars  and  sold  it  again  at  one-eighth 
advance.  His  name  was  Jackson,  and  he  represented  an  exten 
sive  firm  in  unlimited  credit,  that  has  since  retired  from  business, 
after  paying  ten  cents  in  the  dollar  of  an  indebtedness  counted  by 
millions. 


ME.  DONI8.  121 

"  Come,  Mr.  Gaston,"  he  said,  flourishing  some  greenbacks  in 
his  hand ;  "  come,  Donis  !  Let  us  go  to  Delinonico's  and  lunch. 
I've  got  the  money  for  that  turn.  Twelve  fifty.  Let's  get  outside 
of  it." 

Darcy  hesitated.  He  did  not  like  to  be  "  treated"  to  lunch.  His 
habit  was  to  dine  at  four  or  five  o'clock,  at  a  quiet  restaurant, 
where  the  roast  beef  was  exceptionally  good  and  the  prices 
moderate.  Yet  he  had  some  curiosity  to  see  the  interior  of 
Delmouico's,  and  the  thought  passed  through  his  mind  that  Mr. 
Jackson's  money  had  been  easily  made  and  would  be  readily  spent 
anyhow. 

"  Come  along  !"  continued  Mr.  Jackson,  "  Delmonico  will  give 
us  some  stuffed  tommartisses." 

"  I  want  a  filly !"  observed  Mr.  Donis. 

"  All  right !  Come  on !  Come,  Mr.  Gaston,  I  want  you  to  try 
the  tommartisses." 

Darcy  followed,  registering  a  vow  that  he  would  return  the 
treat  to-morrow.  The  waiter,  selected  by  Mr.  Jackson,  led  the  way 
to  a  private  room  on  the  third  floor. 

"  Stuffed  tommartisses  for  two,  Augooste,  and  a  bottle  of  the 
Widdy  Cliquot.  Give  your  order,  Donis." 

"Filly  de  boof,  ox  champingons !"  said  Mr.  Donis,  in  choice 
French. 

"  Oui,  monsieur  !"  said  the  waiter,  and  vanished. 

While  they  waited,  Mr.  Donis  twisted  his  waxed  moustache 
and  studied  Darcy's  plain  exterior.  It  was  at  a  time  when  young 
men  indulged  in  large  plaids  and  monkey  jackets,  and  Darcy  had 
not  adopted  the  fashion. 

"  What  are  yon  after  to-day,  Donis  P  said  Jackson,  while  the 
waiter  arranged  their  repast. 

"  A  little  sterling,"  replied  the  other ;  "Tilter  wants  to  remit  by 
to-morrow's  steamer." 

"  Tilter  ?"  said  Darcy  ;  "  up  Broadway,  hoop  skirts  ?" 

"  Exactly  !"  answered  Mr.  Jackson.  "  Donis  has  a  soft  thing. 
About  forty  girls  rattling  sewing  machines." 

"  It's  a  plaguey  noosance  !"  said  Mr.  Donis.  "You  have  to  keep 
'em  at  work,  and  a  feller  don't  like  to  order  girls  about." 

"But  you  have  lots  of  chances  to  court  'em,"  observed  Mr. 
Jackson,  with  a  grin  ;  "  nobody  to  interfere  with  you." 

"  Don't  know  about  that,"  said  Mr.  Doiiis.  "  I've  been  a  little 
sweet  on  one  of  'em,  and  this  morning  I  saw  her  walk  up  to  the 
door  with  another  feller !" 


122  FLESH  AND  SI'JUIT. 

"  Why  didii't  you  put  a  head  on  him  ?  Come !  Set  np  ! 
Augooste,  draw  the  cork." 

"  No  wine  for  me,  thank  you,"  said  Darcy. 

11  What !    You  are  not  temperance,  are  you  H" 

"  Yes,"  said  Darcy,  decidedly. 

,"  Well,  that's  a  pity.  But  Donis  and  I  can  dispose  of  this  bot 
tle.  Say !  Donis,  why  didn't  you  put  a  head  on  that  feller  !  He 
was  a  poachin'  on  your  property." 

"  I  was  a  block  off  when  Mary  left  him,  or  when  he  left  her. 
But  I  caught  her  on  the  steps  and  told  her  I  had  seen  her  beau. 
Bless  you,  she  was  as  spunky  as  a  cat !  But  I  just  gave  her  a 
little  hug  and  let  her  go." 

"  Are  you  going  to  leave  it  so,"  said  Mr.  Jackson. 

"  Not  much ;  I'll  be  all  right  in  a  week  !  Wish  I  could  see  that 
feller,  though." 

"  What's  name  ?"  said  Mr.  Jackson. 

"  Dunno.  She  was  not  disposed  to  communicate  any  informa 
tion.  But  I'll  find  out." 

il  How  did  the  young  lady  receive  your  caress  ?"  said  Darcy, 
with  his  mouth  full  of  "  tommartiss." 

"  Oh !  just  like  'em  all ;  pretended  to  be  very  indignant,  of 
course,  and  knocked  my  arm  off.  Young  lady !  He !  he  !  She 
is  only  a  sewing  girl !" 

"  Has  she  been  long  with  you,"  continued  Darcy,  his  voice  still 
affected  by  his  efforts  at  deglutition. 

"  Only  a  few  days.  Old  Skillet  brought  her ;  picked  her  up 
somewhere.  Quare  old  chap !  Augooste,  give  me  another  drop 
of  the  creamy.  You  had  better  take  the  rest,  Jackson.  I've  had 
inor'n  my  share." 

This  was  a  very  true  remark. 

Darcy  had  but  little  appetite.  He  sat  quietly  munching  a 
crust,  and  trying  to  decide  whether  he  would  be  justified  in  throw 
ing  Mr.  Donis  out  of  the  window,  or  not.  But  he  reflected  that  it 
was  three  stories  from  the  pavement,  and  concluded  that  it  would 
be  unsafe,  as  he  might  fall  on  the  head  of  some  innocent  pedes 
trian  and  possibly  hurt  him. 

They  walked  down  stairs.  Mr.  Jackson  paid  the  bill,  and  hur 
ried  back  to  the  gold  room.  Mr.  Donis  turned  down  into  Pearl 
street,  Darcy  following,  until  they  reached  the  front  of  the  Cotton 
Exchange.  There  had  been  an  auction  sale  that  morning,  and  the 
street  was  filled  with  bales  of  cotton,  and  they  had  to  thread  their 


MB.  DONIS.  123 

way  between  tiers  of  bales,  piled  near  the  sidewalk.  Mr.  Donis 
had  imbibed  about  two-thirds  of  the  champagne  and  saw  more 
bales  than  the  auctioneer  had  sold, 

"  Excuse  me",  said  Darcy,  "  if  I  transgress  in  asking,  but  I  have 
a  curiosity  to  know  the  name  of  the  sewing  girl  you  mentioned." 

"  Humph !"  said  the  other,  gruffly.  "  I  don't  know  as  it  is  any 
of  your  business." 

"  Certainly  not,"  replied  Darcy,  with  increasing  politeness  j  "but 
it  occurred  to  me  that  it  was  something  unusual  among  gentle 
men,  first  to  insult  an  unprotected  girl,  and  then  to  boast  of  it." 

There  was  such  a  marked  disparity  between  his  tones  and  his 
words,  that  Mr.  Donis  was  sobered  a  little.  He  leaned  on  his 
cane  and  reflected,  putting  his  hand  up  to  his  moustache.  Darcy 
noticed  that  he  tossed  his  arm  forward,  and  gradually  brought 
his  fingers  to  his  mouth,  very  much  like  his  pursuer  of  the  previous 
night.  There  was  something  about  the  motion  that  increased 
Darcy's  ire. 

"  A  man  with  human  instincts,"  continued  Darcy,  after  waiting 
in  vain  for  a  response,  "could  hardly  do  what  you  say  you  did. 
The  fact  that  the  girl  was  poor  enough  to  be  obliged  to  work  for 
her  living,  would  be  a  shield  of  adamant  to  a  gentleman." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say  I'm  no  gentleman  H"  said  Mr.  Donis, 
fiercely.  "  Look  here !  You  can  take  yourself  off  if  you  like,  or 
you  can  have  your  head  knocked  off!  Whichever  you  please." 

"  Stop !"  said  Darcy,  catching  his  arm,  as  he  raised  it  threaten 
ingly.  "  You  have  had  too  much  wine  to-day.  Wait  until  to-mor 
row,  and  I  will  call  at  your  place,  and  repeat  my  remarks." 

"  You  will,  will  you  ?"  said  Mr.  Doiiis,  furiously.  "  Well,  I'll 
put  a  mark  on  you,  so  that  I'll  know  you  again ;"  and  he  raised  his 
cane  suddenly,  and  aimed  a  terrific  blow  at  Darcy's  head. 

That  amiable  young  gentleman  heaved  a  sigh,  partly  of  regret, 
and  partly  of  heavenly  relief.  He  had  been  burning  to  throttle 
Mr.  Douis  for  half  an  hour,  and  now  it  was  a  clear  case  of  self- 
defence.  They  were  standing  in  a  little  area,  surrounded  by  cotton 
bales,  part  on  the  sidewalk  and  part  on  the  street,  and  were 
therefore  hidden  from  the  passengers  on  either  side.  Darcy 
started  forward,  caught  the  descending  cane  on  his  left  arm,  and 
disarranged  Mr.  Donis's  necktie  with  his  other  hand.  The  cane 
dropped  in  the  scuffle,  and  so  did  Mr.  Donis.  Darcy  rolled  him 
over  into  the  gutter,  which  was  full  of  slush,  and  spoiled  the  ap 
pearance  of  his  hat  and  monkey  jacket.  Then  he  caught  his 


124  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

collar  again,  and  bobbed  him  up  and  down  in  the  water  eighteen 
times,  spoiling  all  the  exhilarating  effect  of  the  champagne.  He 
did  not  strike  him  at  all.  At  last  he  drew  him  out  upon  the  curb, 
and  propped  him  up  against  a  cotton  bale,  limp  and  exhausted. 

"My  name  is  Darcy  Gaston,"  he  said,  as  he  released  him.  "  I 
may  be  found  at  number  fifty-five,  Wall  street.  I  am  disen 
gaged  generally  until  noon,  and  will  be  at  your  service  whenever 
you  may  want  me.  Good  morning !"  and  he  walked  gingerly  out 
of  the  area,  leaving  Mr.  Donis  in  doubt  as  to  the  reality  of  his 
surroundings,  or  as  to  the  present  money  vaue  of  his  attire. 

"What  ails  your  arm?"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  suddenly  pouncing 
upon  Darcy,  as  he  was  wrapping  the  injured  member  in  a  wet 
towel. 

"  Oh !"  said  Darcy,  "  excuse  me,  sir !  I  did  not  know  you  were 
in.  My  arm  ?  Oh !  I  struck  it  against  something,  down  in  Pearl 
street." 

"You  did?"  responded  Mr.  Skillet;  "and  your  face  and  hair, 
too  ?  It's  no  consequence ;  but  it  looks  as  if  you  had  struck  agin 
a  streak  o'  lightning !" 

"  Yes,  sir !"  replied  Darcy,  in  some  confusion,  glancing  at  the 
reflection  of  his  scratched  countenance,  and  tumbled  hair,  in  a 
mirror  on  the  opposite  wall. 

"  I  was  going  to  ask  you  to  go  up  Broadway,  with  a  message 
to  old  Tilter.  ^Verbal.  Talkin'  is  safer  than  writin'  sometimes. 
Can't  sue  you  for  damages  or  nauthin !" 

"Tilter!"  said  Darcy,  in  dismay.  The  poor  youth  thought 
Helen  would  see  him,  scratched  and  disfigured. 

"  Ya-as !  I  want  you  to  give  him  my  compliments ;  blast  his 
picter !  and  tell  him  that  whelp  of  hisen,  Doiiis,  that  he  sent  down 
here  after  exchange  What's  the  matter  ?" 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Skillet,  pray  don't  send  me ;  Mr.  Donis  is  not  very 
well.  In  fact,  he  was  with  me,  when  I  got  my  arm  hurt." 

"  The  dickens  he  was !"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  eyeing  Darcy  keenly ; 
"  and  did  he  git  his  arm  hurt  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir — at  least  he  got  somewhat  damaged — chiefly  in  his 
habiliments.  You  see,  sir,"  he  continued,  humbly,  "  he  was  telling 
of  his  exploits  among  the  sewing  girls — and — you  know  Miss 
Harding  is  there,  sir,  and  I  ventured  to  expostulate — and  he  struck 
me  with  a  stick — and " 

"Proceed!"  said  Mr.  Skillet. 

"  Well,  I  rolled  him  in  the  gutter,  sir.    I  did  not  notice  the 


BAFFLED.  125 

water  in  it  until  it  was  too  late.  I  see  it  splashed  on  me  also. 
But  I  don't  like  to  take  any  message  that  will  add  to  his  trouble. 
I  think  he  will  do  for  a  day  or  two." 

"  All  right  I"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  "  it's  no  consequence ;"  and  he 
retired  into  the  back  office,  where  he  rolled  over  on  the  lounge  in 
security,  while  the  tears  rolled  down  his  rosy  cheeks. 

"  Gosh  and  Gemini!"  he  said,  when  he  regained  his  voice;  "  a 
nice,  quiet,  sweet  tempered  Dassy  I've  got,  I  don't  think !  The 
pesky  young  cuss !  The  unreconstructed  young  rebbil !  Bully  for 
Dassy  I" 


CHAPTER   XXVI. 
BAFFLED. 

ME.  DONIS,  who  was  greatly  discouraged  by  the  little  skrim- 
inage  at  which  he  had  assisted,  sat  leaning  against  the 
cotton  bale,  looking  at  his  soiled  garments,  and  mopping  his 
dishevelled  tresses  with  his  handkerchief.  There  was  a  brisk 
air  stirring,  and  as  he  sat  in  a  draught,  the  evaporation  made 
him  feel  cool  and  collected.  Something  had  to  be  done,  however, 
and  he  scrambled  to  his  feet,  picked  up  his  hat,  late  so  trim  and 
glossy,  and  tried  to  twirl  his  moustache  and  look  fierce.  But  it 
Was  a  failure,  as  the  wax  had  been  washed  off  by  his  numerous 
submersions.  He  thought  he  would  like  to  swear,  but  could  not 
think  of  any  customary  expletives  that  would  do  justice  to  the 
circumstances.  Darcy  had  knelt  on  his  slender  legs,  and  Donis 
thought  they  were  broken,  but  they  were  only  damp  and  decidedly 
cold. 

"  Ruined  !"'he  muttered ;  "  sixty-five  dollar  suit,  not  to  mention 
the  hat.  I  want  a  gallon  of  that  fellow's  gore." 

He  picked  up  his  cane,  and  began  to  thread  his  way  out  of  the 
area.  At  the  entrance  he  met  a  stranger,  who  looked  at  his 
splashed  attire,  and  drew  aside  to  give  him  passage. 

"  Had  a  fall,  sir  f  said  he.  "  Ah  !  I  see ;  you  slipped  on  the 
curb.  There  ought  to  be  a  law  against  blocking  up  the  street  in 
this  way.  Not  hurt,  are  you  F 

"  Not  much,"  answered  Mr.  Donis ;  "  it  was  not  exactly  a  fall. 
That  is,  I  had  a  tussle  with  a  blackguard,  and  he  tripped  me  up, 
and  then  run.  I'll  be  even  with  him  yet." 


126  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

"  Better  call  a  policeman  in  such  cases,"  observed  the  stranger 
lt  Would  you  know  him  again  ?" 

"  Know  him  !  I  should  think  so,  confound  him  !  I  don't  know 
how  I  am  going  up  Broadway  in  these  clothes,  though." 

"  Why  didn't  you  give  him  a  taste  of  your  stick  P  said  the 
other.  u  It  is  a  good  tough  stick." 

"  I  gave  him  one  wipe,  curse  him  1  But  he  tripped  me  up  the 
next  minnit." 

"  What  did  you  quarrel  about  ?"  Donis  looked  more  intently 
at  the  questioner  before  he  answered.  He  wore  a  seedy  white 
overcoat  and  a  felt  hat,  but  he  had  nicely  fitting  kid  gloves  on  his 
hands,  and  had  a  thoroughbred  air  that  impressed  his  inter 
locutor.  He  had  almond  shaped,  black  eyes,  a  hooked  nose,  and 
under  it,  a  volume  of  red  beard. 

"  About  a  woman,"  replied  Mr.  Donis,  reluctantly.  "  I  saw 
him  walkin'  with  her  this  mornin' ;  but  I  didn't  know  him  'till  we 
had  the  tussle.  She  didn't  mention  his  name,  neither.  But  while 
he  was  aggravatin'  me  in  there,  it  just  flashed  on  my  mind  that 
he  was  the  same  feller.  And  when  he  told  me  he  was  at  55  Wall 
street — that's  old  Skillet's — I  knowed  I  was  right,  because  old 
Skillet  brought  the  gal  to  our  place." 

"  Skillet!"  said  the  other;  "  the  stock  and  gold  broker?" 

"  Yes.  This  Gaston  stays  with  him.  I  met  him  in  the  gold 
room.  What  can  I  do  with  these  clothes  ?" 

"  Come  with  me,"  said  the  stranger,  courteously.  "  I  know  a 
place  where  you  can  get  dried,  anyhow.  It  is  close  by.  Here  in 
Pearl  street." 

It  was  a  dingy  looking  cellar,  where  lager  beer  was  dispensed. 
But  there  was  a  great  red  stove  in  the  centre.  They  drew  their 
chairs  up,  and  the  stranger  called  for  two  glasses  of  beer.  Drink 
never  came  amiss  to  Mr.  Donis,  and  although  he  had  so  recently 
imbibed  two-thirds  of  a  bottle  of  Cliquot,  he  accepted  the  lager. 
The  wine  had  probably  got  somewhat  diluted  in  his  tussle. 

"Now  take  off  your  coat,  and  hang  it  on  the  chair  back.  Hans, 
bring  another  chair.  So !  You  might  take  off  your  pantaloons, 
if  you  like.  Nobody  here,  but  beer-swilling  Dutchmen. 

"  I'll  lend  ter  shentlemans  a  pair  of  overhalls,"  said  Hans, 
obligingly;  " dey  are  cleans.  Schlippers  too."  Hans  thought 
they  would  drink  the  more  lager,  the  longer  they  staid,  and  had 
some  visions  of  a  possible  quarter,  also.  He  produced  the  articles 
in  a  moment. 


BAFFLED,  127 

"  That  is  sensible,"  observed  the  stranger,  approvingly.  "  Now 
Hans,  see  if  you  can't  brush  up  this  hat.  We  shall  want  two 

more  lagers  presently.    Mr. I  beg  your  pardon,  but  I  have 

forgotten  your  name." 

"  Douis." 

"  And  mine  is  Blake.  It  is  rather  odd,  but  I  have  a  little 
business  with  your  friend.  What  did  you  call  him  ?  Gaston  I" 

"  No  friend  of  mine,"  said  Mr.  Donis,  roughly. 

"  Quite  as  much  yours  as  mine,"  replied  the  other,  showing  his 
white  teeth  j  "  it  is  quite  likely  that  we  may  be  too  much  for  him 
hereafter.  He  has — well — he  has  tripped  me  up,  metaphorically, 
also.  And  when  he  tripped  me,  he  ran,  as  he  did  from  you." 

"  Give  us  your  hand,  Mr.  Blake !"  said  Donis,  eagerly.  "  I'll 
join  in  any  arrangement  to  put  a  head  on  that  Gaston.  Did  he 
interfere  with  any  woman  of  yours  ?" 

"  Well,  yes.  But  not  seriously.  My  complaint  against  him  is 
more  on  account  of  his  leading  me  a  fool's  chase,  about  two  miles, 
and  then  slipping  out  of  my  very  fingers.  I  tracked  him  to  Skillet's 
this  morning.  Two  more,  Hans !  What  sort  of  girl  is  yours  F 

"  Big  grey  eyes.  Very  stiff  and  proud.  One  of  our  sewing 
girls  in  fact.  Name  of  Harding — Mary.  She  beats  the  witches 
with  the  Singers.  I  believe  she  could  take  one  to  pieces,  and  put 
it  together  again  inside  of  ten  minutes." 

"  Don't  you  know  where  she  lives  F  said  Mr.  Blake,  carelessly. 

"  Oh,  yes.    I  followed  her  home  last  night." 

"  Near  your  place  F 

"  No.    Down  in  Camden  street,  Number  ninety-six*" 

"  And  your  place — " 

"  Tilter's.     Hoop  skirts.     Broadway." 

,  "Oh,  yes ;  I  know  the  locality."  He  took  out  his  watch  and 
started  up.  "Bless  me!  It  is  nearly  three  o'clock!  I  have  an 
appointment  at  three.  Will  you  excuse  me,  if  I  leave  you  ?  Your 
clothes  will  be  dry  in  half  an  hour,  and  Hans  will  brush  the  stains 
off.  Give  him  a  quarter,  and  it  will  be  all  right.  I'll  see  you 
again ;  good  day  1" 

Mr.  Tilter  was  at  the  top  of  the  seventy-two  steps,  when  Mr. 
Blake  presented  himself,  at  three,  fifteen.  Mr.  Blake  begged  per 
mission  to  say  a  word  to  Miss  Harding. 

"  Harding  F  said  Mr.  Tilter,  with  the  quill  in  his  mouth.  "  Let 
me  see,"  and  he  consulted  a  memorandum  book ;  "  Oh,  yes.  Not 
in  j  sick,  I  suppose.  Not  been  back  since  noon." 


128  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

Mr.  Blake  walked  down  to  Camden  street.  Number  96  was  a 
cosy  little  brick  house,  three  stories.  Very  respectable  neighbour 
hood,  certainly,  but  no  brownstone  fronts.  After  some  hesitation, 
he  rang  the  bell. 

"  Is  Miss  Harding  in  T  he  asked,  when  the  door  opened. 

"  No,  sir,"  replied  the  girl. 

"  Are  you  sure  F 

"  I  am,  thin,"  responded  the  girl.  "  I  put  her  in  a  'bus  wid  her 
satchel  an  hour  ago." 

"  Is  Mrs.  Camp  disengaged  f  said  Mr.  Blake,  his  black  eyes 
snapping  with  rage ;  "  Please  ask  her  if  I  can  see  her  a  moment." 

"  Sure  you  can,  sir.    Walk  into  the  parlour,  plaze." 

When  Mrs.  Camp  appeared,  Mr.  Blake  had  regained  his  com 
posure.  He  had  rapidly  made  up  the  outlines  of  a  story,  while  he 
waited. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  disturb  you,  Mrs.  Camp,"  he  said,  politely ;  "  but 
I  had  an  urgent  message  for  Miss  Harding." 

"  Oh,  from  Mr.  Tilter  ?  Yes,  sir,  she  said  he  might  want  to 

know But  how  did  you  find  her  address  ?  She  told  me  Mr. 

Tilter  would  not  know  where  to  send.  Take  a  seat,  sir." 

Mr.  Blake  resumed  his  seat.  It  would  not  do  to  come  from  Mr. 
Tilter,  evidently. 

"  Mr.  Tilter  ?  Oh,  no,  madam.  My  message  is  from  Kentucky. 
"  Your  servant  said  Miss  Harding  was  out." 

"Sarveut!"  muttered  Bridget,  who  was  listening  in  the  hall. 
"  The  divil  take  his  impudence,  thin !  To  call  a  dacent  girl  a  sar- 
vent,  when  she  is  only  a  help." 

"Yes,  sir,"  replied  Mrs.  Camp;  "she  has  been  gone  since  half- 
past  two." 

"  Do  you  know  when  she  will  return  f  I  must  deliver  my  mes 
sage  this  afternoon,  if  possible." 

"  Well,  sir,"  said  Mrs.  Camp,  "  I  am  sorry  I  cannot  give  her  ad 
dress.  She  has  left  for  good,  and  I  have  no  idea  where  she  has 
gone." 

There  was  an  unmistakable  air  of  truthfulness  about  Mrs.  Camp, 
and  Mr.  Blake  dismissed  the  first  suggestion — to  wit :  that  she 
was  deceiving  him — without  hesitation.  He  was  greatly  dis 
turbed,  evidently. 

"  It  is  highly  important  that  I  should  see  Miss  Harding,"  he 
said ;  "  can  you  suggest  any  one  to  me,  who  would  probably  know 
where  to  find  her  F 


BAFFLED.  129 

"  Indeed,  I  cannot,  sir.    I  have  not  the  most  remote  idea." 

u  Would  you  object  to  telling  me  what  she  said,  when  she  left 
you  V  said  Mr.  Blake ;  "  perhaps  she  may  have  left  some  clue  that 
I  can  follow  up." 

"  She  just  came  to  my  door,  and  said  l  Mrs.  Camp,  I  am  obliged 
to  leave  you  for  the  present.  It  is  like  leaving  my  home  again, 
and  I  am  sorry  j'  and  she  put  some  money  in  my  hand,  for  her 
board,  and  kissed  me.  I  asked  her  where  she  was  going " 

"  Well,  madam,"  said  Mr.  Blake,  anxiously. 

"  I  can't  understand  her  answer,  at  all,  sir !  She  looked  so 
quiet  and  cheerful,  and  good,  that  I  was  not  able  to  question  her. 
She  said  she  would  write  to  me  soon,  but  at  present  she  could  not 
say  where  she  was  going!  And  ever  since  she  left — more  than  an 
hour  ago — I  have  felt  like  blaming  myself  for  not  locking  her  up 
in  her  room !  I  don't  know  what  to  think !" 

11  Will  you  allow  me  to  call  again,  Mrs.  Camp,  some  days  hence  ?" 
said  Mr.  Blake,  rising.  "  Perhaps  she  may  give  an  address  in  her 
note  to  you." 

"  Certainly,  sir.    But  I  don't  expect  a  note." 

"  Did  she  say  she  would  write  ?" 

"  Yes.    But  she  may  forget  that." 

"  Never !   She  would  keep  her  word,  if  death  were  the  penalty." 

"I  am  greatly  distressed.  But,  patience!  We  must  wait. 
Good  afternoon,  madam." 

Mr.  Blake  made  a  very  indifferent  pantomime  of  patience  as  he 
left  Camden  street.  His  eyes  glittered,  he  ground  his  teeth,  and 
stamped  with  fiendish  rage  upon  the  stones  he  traversed. 

"  Baffled  again!"  he  whispered  to  himself;  "  baffled,  and  by  a 
slip  of  a  girl,  and  this  miserable  little  Kentucky  ignoramus ! 
Baffled  by  a  hair's  breadth !  Ten  thousand  million  devils !  Is  the 
very  best  and  most  promising  scheme  of  my  entire  life  to  be 
thwarted  by  such  as  these!  Is  Rupert  Grey  to  be  the  laughing 
stock  of  the  civilized  world !  I  am  beside  myself  with  rage  and 
disappointment.  And  to  make  the  humiliation  complete,  there  is 
the  consciousness  that  I  was  within  one  hour  of  success ;  only  sixty 
minutes  !  Ten  thousand  million  billion  devils !" 

And  in  this  pleasant  frame  of  mind,  Mr.  Blake,  or  Mr.  Grey, 
walked  down  Broadway.  Arrived  at  the  Saint  Nicholas  hotel,  he 
went  into  the  billiard  room,  and,  lighting  a  cigar,  sat  apart  in  a 
corner,  revolving  new  schemes,  and  tossing  his  arm  out  in  the  old 
conceited  fashion,  as  he  gradually  regained  his  equanimity. 

9 


130  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

CHAPTER  XXVH. 
GASTON. 


<<""VT~ELL  !"  said  Tige  Gaston,  as  he  and  his  wife  sat  at  their 

-i-N  glorious  hickory  wood  fire  one  evening;  "Nell,  my 
darling,  my  mind  is  ill  at  ease.  I  am  like  old  Pegtop." 

"  Who  is  Pegtop,  Tige  f  responded  Mrs.  Gaston,  drawing  her 
chair  nearer  to  him,  and  leaning  her  head  upon  his  sturdy  arm. 
These  weak-minded  people  had  been  married  a  dozen  years,  but  they 
still  hugged  the  delusion  that  they  were  lovers.  Each  thought 
the  other  a  thousand  fold  more  beautiful  and  good  than  their 
most  extravagant  estimates  were  when  they  were  only  lovers. 
There  had  been  a  time  since  their  marriage  when  a  rosy,  rollick 
ing  boy  had  drawn  from  them  a  new  set  of  emotions,  all  flowing 
with  accurate  regularity  from  the  parental  relation  wherein  man 
attains  the  fullness  of  godliness  —  attainable  no  otherwise  beneath 
the  stars.  And  when  the  little  mound  in  the  churchyard  was  all 
that  was  left  to  them  in  the  world's  estimation,  each  secretly  clung 
with  ineffable  comfort  to  the  conviction  that  the  relation  was  only 
modified,  not  changed;  and  each  waited  with  calm  confidence  for 
the  time,  sure  to  come,  when  the  boy  —  still  Little  Hal  —  should 
welcome  them  to  that  Land  where  he  waited  for  them.  And  while 
there  was  but  little  converse  betwixt  them  upon  the  topic,  each 
knew  the  other's  thought  ;  and  so  they  drew  closer,  each  to  the 
other,  while  the  flowers  bloomed  and  faded  on  the  mound. 

"  Pegtop,"  said  Tige,  slipping  his  arm  under  her  head,  and  so 
bringing  her  soft  eyes  nearer  to  his  own  ;  "  Pegtop  was  a  gentle 
man,  whose  short  biography  may  be  found  somewhere  in  Marry- 
att  I  cannot  tell  the  story  in  his  expressive  language,  but  the 
facts  are  as  follows  :  Pegtop  had  a  son.  The  son  embarked  upon 
the  treacherous  ocean  -  " 

•"  He  couldn't  embark  anywhere  else,  Tige,"  observed  Mrs. 
Gaston. 

"  Don't  interrupt  me,  wife  !  Yes,  he  could.  He  might  have 
embarked  on  a  pond.  But  it  was  the  ocean,  and  neither  young 
Pegtop  nor  young  Pegtop's  bark  were  ever  heard  from.  So  old 
Pegtop  was  wont  to  say  his  mind  was  ill  at  ease,  because  he  did 
not  know  his  son's  fate.  But  one  day  a  shark  was  captured  some 
where  in  the  tropics,  and  being  cut  up,  a  silver  watch  was  found 
in  his  stomach.  And  the  watch  was  identified  as  young  Pegtop's 


NELL  OASTON.  131 

watch.  Then  old  Pegtop  said  his  mind  was  at  ease,  because  he 
now  knew  exactly  what  had  become  of  his  son." 

"  Well,"  said  Nell,  knitting  her  brows,  "  whose  shark,  or  whose 
watch  do  you  want,  Tige  !  It's  a  horrid  story,  though." 

u  There,  now,"  replied  her  husband,  "  you  are  off  again  with 
your  literal  interpretation.  I  only  said  I  resembled  old  Pegtop, 
because  my  mind  was  ill  at  ease.  I  don't  want  any  watch." 

"Is  it  Darcy  ?" 

"  Of  course,  it  is  Darcy.  Nobody  else  has  a  watch,  bat  Darcy. 
Ah,  Nell !  You  gave  your  watch  to  Darcy,  and  thought  I  would 
not  find  you  out." 

"  But  I  had  two  watches,  Tige,"  answered  his  wife ;  "  you  gave 
me  this  on  my  last  birthday.  I  could  not  wear  two  watches, 
you  know.  Darcy  lost  his  watch  when  he  was  captured  over 
there."  Tige  and  his  wife  always  referred  to  one  of  the  bloodiest 
battles  of  the  war  as  "  over  there." 

"  Oh,  it's  all  right,"  said  Mr.  Gaston  j  "  but  let  us  return  to  the 
original  topic.  I  am  anxious  about  that  boy." 

"  What  makes  you  anxious  ?" 

"  His  letters,"  and  he  produced  a  small  packet.  "  Here  they 
are,  you  have  read  them  all.  Now,  what  do  you  think  ?" 

u  I  think  Darcy  is  not  telling  us  everything,"  answered  Mrs.  Gas- 
ton,  positively.  "  He  don't  say  one  word  about  his  occupations 
of  an  evening.  Does  he  go  to  theatres  and  balls!  Has  he  fe 
male  acquaintances  I  A  young  man  cannot  be  satisfied  without 
some  sort  of  society.  Why  don't  he  describe  his  evenings  ?" 

"  Why,  Nell,"  said  Tige,  "  you  forget.  Here  is  to-day's  letter. 
Listen !  '  I  was  up  quite  late  last  night.  After  I  posted  yester 
day's  letter,  I  had  some  papers  to  examine,  as  I  have  a  case  in 
hand,  partly  legal  and  partly  financial.  I  find  my  legal  lore  very 
valuable,  brother,  in  many  ways.  I  think  of  getting  some  books, 
and  reading  up  o'  nights.  If  I  study  the  New  York  Code  a  little, 
I  can  get  into  a  law  office  here,  work  up  cases,  and  finally  obtain 
admittance  into  the  profession.  After  I  had  worked  on  the 
papers  a  while,  I  walked  out  to  the  Park.  It  is  going  to  be  a 
great  park,  Sister  Nell,  one  of  these  days.  Well,  after  I  got  back 
as  far  as  Twenty-third  street,  I  stopped  in  the  Fifth  Avenue 
Hotel.  I  noticed  an  ugly  rascal  there,  and  he  seemed  to  notice 
me.  Then  I  walked  down  to  the  St.  Nicholas,  and  there  was  my 
red  whiskered  beauty  again.  So  I  just  got  into  the  elevator, 
went  up  two  or  three  floors,  got  out,  tripped  down  the  side  stairs 


132  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT 

and  into  the  street  by  the  ladies'  door.  Then  I  made  tracks.  If 
the  fellow  followed  me,  he  must  have  had  wings  to  his  boots,  like 
Mercury.  By  the  bye,  Mercury  is  the  god  of  thieves !" 

"  The  boy  will  get  murdered  in  that  dreadful  city !"  ejaculated 
Nell. 

"  Murdered !  Pooh !  No  danger  of  that.  The  fellow  saw  that 
watch  chain  of  yours,  no  doubt,  and  was  after  that.  What  the 
dickens  did  the  boy  go  poking  about  the  hotels  for!  Then  he 
goes  on :  '  I  was  all  aglow  when  I  reached  my  room,  and  was 
mindful  of  my  promise  to  Sister  Nell  to  take  care  of  my  health, 
so  I  tumbled  into  bed  while  the  circulation  was  rapid.  I  write 
this  by  the  grey  light  of  dawn,  as  it  is  too  early  to  go  down  town, 
and  I  am  too  wide  awake  to  go  back  to  bed.'  " 

tl  It  is  not  natural,  Tige,"  observed  Mrs.  Gaston,  "  for  a  healthy 
young  man  to  object  to  bed.  I  am  sure  you  would  lie  abed  half 
the  day  if  you  could  get  breakfast." 

"  But  I  am  not  a  healthy  young  man,  Nell,"  said  Tige ;  "  I  feel 
quite  feeble.  I  was  thinking  to-day  that  I  ought  to  take  a  little 
trip  somewhere." 

"  Little  trip  ?" 

"  Yes.  With  you,  of  course.  How  would  you  like  to  travel  a 
little?" 

"  To  Omaha,  Tige  ?"  said  Mrs.  Gaston,  deceitfully. 

tl  No,  I  thought  we  might  go  to  Cincinnati,  and  perhaps  to 
Pittsburgh  ;  and  if  I  could  stand  the  fatigue " 

"  Go  on,  you  old  hypocrite  1"  said  Nell.  '•  You  want  to  go  to 
New  York !" 

"Well,  of  all  the  women  I  have  ever  met  you  take  the  lead  !" 
said  Mr.  Gaston,  in  a  burst  of  genuine  admiration.  "  Here  I  have 
been  blundering  along,  trying  to  find  out  your  sentiments,  and 
you  just  pounce  upon  mine  upon  the  slightest  hint !  Now,  I  will 
make  a  clean  breast  of  it!  I  met  Mr.  Burton  in  Lexington 
to-day " 

"  Yes !"  said  Mrs.  Gaston,  sarcastically,  "  I  remember  Mr.  Bur 
ton.  You  undertook  his  case  without  a  retainer,  fought  it  through 
a  whole  term,  gained  it  at  last,  and  then  sent  him  a  check  for  his 
claim  without  deducting  a  fee !" 

"Exactly!"  said  her  husband,  "  so  to-day  he  gave  me  a  thou 
sand  dollars ;  and  it  is  in  bank  this  minute !  And  I  thought  you 
and  I  could  indulge  ourselves  with  a  peep  at  Darcy.  Oh,  Nell,  I 
am  so  hungry  for  a  sight  of  the  boy  !" 


NELL  GASTON.  133 

"  Me,  too,  Mars'r  Tige  !  as  Nanny  says  !"  rejoined  Mrs.  Gaston. 
"  Let  us  go  without  notifying  him,  and  may  be.  we'll  catch  him  un 
awares  !  You  talk  about  being  hungry  !  Why,  I  am  aching  all 
over  to  see  him  1  When  can  you  go,  dear  ?" 

"  To-night !"  said  Tige,  starting  up.  "  Why  not  ?  Can't  you 
put  a  few  things  into  a  trunk  and  drive  to  Lexington  in  forty  min 
utes  ?  Certainly !  I  have  enough  money  in  my  pocket  for  the 
trip,  and  my  check  book  is  in  my  desk.  Here,  put  it  in.  I  don't 
want  anything  but  two  or  three  shirts.  You  may  fill  up  the 
trunk  with  your  own  furbelows  !  Women  can't  travel  without  a 
trunk  any  more  than  an  elephant !  But  you  are  such  a  darling  little 
woman,  that  you  shall  have  ten  trunks  if  you  like  !  Kiss  me,  and 
go  pack  up !" 

"  There  are  those  hams  I"  said  Mrs.  Gaston,  reflectively.  "  They 
ought  to  come  out  of  pickle  on  Friday  ;  they  will  be  ruined.  Six 
teen  of  them,  and  perfect  beauties  !" 

"  I'll  give  you  a  check,  Nell,  for  their^full  value ;  will  you  be 
gone  !" 

"  No,  sir  !"  she  answered,  with  dignity.  "  If  you  have  gone 
stark  crazy,  I  have  not !  Nanny  might  remember  to  take  the  hams 
out,  but " 

u  Nell !"  said  Tige,  imploringly,  "  it  is  ten  o'clock  !  The  train 
leaves  at  eleven  thirty  !" 

"  Well,  sir  f ' 

"  And  you  will  require  at  least  an  hour  to  pack  that  trunk  !" 

"  Don't  bother  me,  Mr.  Gaston.  Nanny  1  Do  you  think  you 
can  remember  to  take  the  hams  out  on  Friday  ?" 

"  You  done  tole  me  about  de  hams,  Miss  Nell,"  answered  Nanny. 
"  You  tole  me  dis  mornin  !  And  I  knows  about  'em  anyhow. 
Take  'em  out  in  de  full  ob  de  moon,  wid  de  sign  in  de  heart.  And 
de  middlins  gwine  to  lay  in  pickle  two  days  longer.  De  moon 
fulls  on  Friday.  Can't  forget  dat,  'kase  my  rheumatiz  allers  comes 
on  reg'lar  when  she  fulls." 

"  Never  mind  about  the  moon,  Nanny " 

"  Werry  well,  den  !  You  jist  hang  dat  bacon,  wid  de  moon  on 
de  wane — you'll  see  !" 

"  Well,  then,"  said  Mrs.  Gaston,  "  Friday  will  be  all  right.  And, 
Nanny,  take  care  of  the  eggs.  If  you  can  keep  that  speckled  hen's 
eggs  separate,  I  should  like  to  have  a  setting 

"  Settin'  !  La  !  Miss  Nelly,  wid  snow  on  de  ground  !  'Taint  no 
good  time,  nohow ;  wouldn't  have  no  luck  wid  chickens.  Massy  ! 
You  done  tried  dat  oncet.  Pickin'  out  eggs  is  jist  temptin'  Prov- 


134  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

idence.  You  seems  to  be  forcin'  on  de  hen  chickens  she  had  no  right 
to  raise.  What  right  has  she  to  sot  on  other  hens'  eggs !  Den 
she  don't  have  no  motherly  feelin'  for  de  chickens,  and  don't  half 
huddle  'em.  Besides,  Miss  Nelly,  you  done  tole  me  about  de 
chickens  dis  mornin' !" 

'•  It  seems  to  me,"  quoth  Tige,  "  that  you  have  made  all  and 
sundry  arrangements  this  morning,  Nell  !" 

"  Don't  bother  me,  Mr.  Gaston !"  replied  Nell.  "  And  Nanny, 
you  can  send  the  last  churning  to  Lexington.  Send  two  pounds 
to  Mrs.  Graves,  with  my  compliments,  and  send  the  rest  to  Milli- 
kin's." 

"  Must  I  send  your  compl'ments  to  Mr.  Millikin,  wid  de  butter  P 

«  Certainly  not !    The  old  skinflint  1" 

il  Well,  den,  Miss  Nelly,  you  done  tole  me  about  dat  dis  mornin', 
when  you  was  packin'  de  trunk — . —  " 

"  There  !  Get  out  Nanny  I  Tell  John  to  drive  up  !  You  see, 
Tige,  I  knew  your  heart  was  set  on  this  journey,  so  I  made  all 
needful  preparations  this  morning.  You  old  goose  !  I  knew  you 
would  want  to  rush  off  by  the  first  train.  Really,  Tige,  at  your 
age,  you  should  be  more  sober  and  less  impulsive.  Why  couldn't 
you  wait  until  to-morrow  ?" 

"  True  enough,  Nell  1"  replied  Tige,  deceitfully.  "  We  can  wait 
Fll  tell  John  to  put  up  the  horses.  It  is  a  cold  night,  anyhow." 

*'  Cold  !  What  an  absurdity  !  No,  sir  !  I  am  not  going  to  do 
all  my  packing  over  again  !  If  you  are  really  bent  on  this  trip, 
the  sooner  it  is  over  the  better.  Besides,  you  have  made  me  thor 
oughly  uneasy  about  that  boy  !  I  want  to  see  that  Skillet  man, 
too.  Ah  !  that  boy  would  make  friends  anywhere  !  I  want  to  see 
if  Mr.  Skillet  keeps  him  bent  double  over  a  desk.  Darcy  has  a 
weak  chest,  anyhow.  Put  on  your  overcoat !  It  would  be  a  nice 
business  to  miss  the  train,  after  all  your  preparations.  And  I 
should  have  my  hands  pretty  full,  keeping  you  quiet  another 
twenty-four  hours  !  Oh,  Tige  !  if  you  would  only  learn  to  be  less 
headlong  you  would  be  perfect !  What  in  the  world  are  you 
laughing  about  f ' 

"  Nothing,  Nell ;  only  at  the  idea  of  my  perfection.  All  ready ! 
How  bright  the  stars  are  !  Good  bye,  Nanny  !  Don't  forget  the 
full  of  the  moon  !  And,  Nanny,  discriminate  between  the  eggs  ! 
All  right,  John  P 

"  'Scriminate  eggs !  Mars'  Tige  '11  be  a  boy  ef  he  lives  till  he's 
a  hundred !  Dere  dey  go  1  Moon  on  right  shoulder  !  Good  luck, 
anyhow  V 


CBOSS  PURPOSES.  135 

CHAPTER    XXVIII. 
CROSS  PURPOSES. 

ON  the  morning  succeeding  Mr.  Darcy  Gaston's  flight  from  the 
threatening  arm  of  Mr.  Donis,  Mr.  Skillet  was  late  at  the 
office.  He  found  Darcy  at  his  desk,  and  the  youth  started  up  as 
soon  as  he  entered,  and  followed  him  into  the  back  room.  Mr. 
Skillet  proceeded  to  open  the  morning  letters,  with  his  usual  com 
posure,  and  was  entirely  unconscious  of  Darcy's  high  excitement 
— apparently. 

"  Mr.  Skillet,"  he  began,  "  I  am  terribly  distressed !  Miss 
Harding  has  disappeared." 

"Miss  Harding!"  said  Mr.  Skillet;  "Oh!  ah!  Ya-as.  You 
mean  the  young  lady  at  Camp's  ?  Well,  ask  Camp " 

"  No  use  to  ask  Mr.  Camp,  sir.  She  left  yesterday,  a  little  after 
noon,  and  I  am  sure  she  purposely  concealed  her  intentions  and 
destination  from  Mrs.  Camp." 

"  Changed  her  boardin'  heouse !''  said  Mr.  Skillet.  "  Well,  I 
s'pose  the  cookin'  didn't  suit  her.  It's  no  consequence  !  She'll 
come  out  all  right.  She's  true  grit !  Here's  a  remittance  from 
Scraggs,  at  last !  the  pesky  whelp !  I  guess  this  will  be  margin 
enough." 

"  She  has  left  the  hoop-skirt  place,  sir,"  continued  Darcy ;  "  I 
called  there  this  morning.  I  did  not  sleep  all  night.  I  am  filled 
with  a  horrible  dread,  to  which  I  can  give  no  name.  I  would  give 
one  of  my  arms  to  know  that  she  was  safe." 

"  Whew  !"  whistled  Mr.  Skillet ;  "  Jerusalem  !  Did  she  owe 
you  anything." 

"  No,  sir,"  answered  Darcy,  indignantly ;  "  but  I  owed  her  a 
great  deal.  I  owed  her  protection  and  defence,  and  I  parted 
from  her  yesterday  morning  in  ill  temper.  And  now  she  is  gone, 
gone  P 

"  And  you  are  a  goner  1"  said  Mr.  Skillet.  "  It's  no  conse 
quence  ;  that  is,  it's  no  business  of  mine.  But  I  crave  to  know  if 
you  have  been  kind  o'  flirtin'  like  with  her  !" 

«  Oh  !  Mr.  Skillet." 

"  Exactly.  She's  an  el'gant  gal !  Very  natural  for  a  young 
man  to  be  sparkin'  a  little.  I  used  to  be  a  fool  myself,  when  I  was 
abeout  your  age.  But  you'll  live  to  outgrow  it.  'Taint  half  as  bad 
as  measles.  Now,  here's  another  letter  from  that  hound,  Brown. 


136  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

He  says  we  threw  his  gold  overboard,  and  he'll  sue  us  for  the 
margin.  I  think  he  must  be  of  the  Hebrew  persuasion.  By  the 
bye,  a  chap  was  here  yesterday  evening  that  must  be  of  the  same 
persuasion.  Black  eyes,  a  hook  nose;  English  Jew,  I  guess.  He 
wanted  to  know  about  Miss  Harding,  too.  Said  he  was  from 
Lexington.  He  came  in  while  you  were  in  Broad  street.  He  had 
been  to  Mrs.  Camp's,  too.  I  heard  him  talking  to  Camp,  and 
pumpin'  him  tremendous!  It  was  a  dry  suck,  though.  Camp 
didn't  know  no  mor'n  you  do.  What  do  you  propose  P 

"  To  find  her,  sir.    I  thought  you  might  advise  me." 

"  Advise  you  ?  Ya-as  !  But  I  crave  to  know  what  you  propose 
to  do  with  the  young  woman,  if  you  find  her." 

"Do  with  her,"  said  Darcy,  startled.  "I  don't  know,  Mr. 
Skillet.  I  had  not  thought  of  that.  But  surely,  it  will  be  time 
enough  to  debate  that  point  when  I  find  her.'' 

"  It  seems  to  me,"  continued  Mr.  Skillet,  "  that  you  will  hardly 
have  enough  sewing  to  keep  her  employed.  It  seems  to  me  that 
she  has  taken  some  pains  to  git  out  of  reach.  And  it  seems  to  me 
you  are  undertaking  a  considerable  job  in  hunting  for  a  young 
woman  in  a  city  like  N'Yauk  !" 

"  That  is  all  true,  sir,"  replied  Darcy ;  "  but  no  such  arguments 
weigh  a  feather !  You  know  that  it  is  impossible  to  relinquish 
the  search  for  this  lady.  You  know  that  every  consideration  of 
manhood — of  common  humanity,  will  compel  me  to  hunt  until  I 
find  her.  How  could  I  rest  while  uncertain  of  her  fate  I" 

"  Tell  me  what  you  propose,  then,"  said  Mr.  Skillet ;  "  some 
times  you  can  learn  suthin',  if  you  listen,  even  from  a  fool !  I 
don't  mean  you're  a  fool.  I'ts  no  consequence." 

"  I  thought  of  applying  to  the  police " 

"  Oh,  Gemini !"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  in  high  derision.  "  I  take  that 
back.  You  mayn't  be  a  right  down  fool,  but  if  there's  a  fool  killer 
anywhere  around,  you'd  better  git  your  life  insured.  Police  ! 
Great  Caesar  I  Where  was  you  raised  P 

There  was  something  so  stunning  in  Mr.  Skillet's  contempt  that 
Darcy  was  silenced.  He  sat  down,  leaned  his  head  on  his  hand, 
and  reflected.  Mr.  Skillet  watehed  his  changing  countenance  with 
great  interest.  He  was  studying  the  habits  of  a  new  animal,  and 
each  new  trait  of  character  appeared  to  entertain  him.  At  last, 
Darcy  rose  and  moved  to  the  door. 

"  Wa-al,"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  "  what's  up  now  ?  I  see  you  have 
some  new  project." 


CROSS  PURPOSES.  187 

"  I  thought  I  would  go  up  to  that  hoop-skirt  place,  sir,"  said 
Darcy. 

"  Indeed !    And  what  do  you  propose  to  do  there  ?" 

"  I  thought  that  little  devil,  Douis,  might  be  there,  and  I  could, 
perhaps,  cut  his  throat !  I  am  certain  she  left  the  place  to  escape 
his  insolent  attentions." 

"  That  would  be  sensible,"  observed  Mr.  Skillet,  sarcastically. 
"  Now,  you  came  in  here  for  advice,  and  you  go  out  without  gitten 
a  word.  That  shows  how  much  advice  is  worth  in  this  world  ! 
Young  men  think  they  have  forgot  more  than  old  men  ever  knew. 
Suppose  I  should  tell  you  what  I  propose  ?  It's  cur'ous,  now  ;  but 
you  have  jest  concluded  that  Miss  Harding  has  no  friend  in  the 
world  but  you." 

"  Ah  !  Mr.  Skillet,"  said  Darcy,  returning,  "  I  beg  your  pardon ! 
I  might  have  known  that  your  kind  heart  would  prompt  you  to  do 
all  that  could  be  done.  Advice  !  I  promise  to  do  exactly  what 
you  think  best." 

"  You  do !    Well,  then,  let  her  set." 

"  Let  her  set  ?"  said  Darcy,  aghast.     "  I  don't  understand  you." 

"  I  s'pose  not,  but  it's  no  consequence.  I  say,  let  her  set !  That 
is;  keep  your  mouth  shet,  and  listen  to  all  you  hear.  Be  as 
ignorant  as  a  mule,  when  another  fellow  is  talkin'  and  let/tim  know 
everything.  Maybe  you  can  learn  suthin'  from  him.  He'll  think  he 
knows  everything,  if  you  just  let  him  set,  and  he'll  think  you  are 
next  door  to  a  fool  if  you  only  keep  quiet.  Then  he  won't  be 
in  competition,  and  suthin'  will  leak  out  that  may  be  useful.  Now 
I  propose  to  find  out  exactly  where  Miss  Harding  is,  and  what 
she  is  doing.  She  hadn't  ought  to  bolt  off  without  tellin'  a 
soul  where  she's  gone,  and  she  is  not  the  sort  of  gal  to  do  it. 
And  she  is  not  the  sort  of  gal  to  do  any  rash  thing  either.  She 
is  all  right !  I'll  engage  to  -have  a  satisfactory  account  of  her 
within  twenty-four  hours.  My  advice  is  jest  to  keep  quiet,  go 
about  your  business,  and  wait.  Will  you  take  it  !" 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  Darcy,  with  alacrity.  "  I  will  not  stir  hand  or 
foot  for  twenty -four  hours,  or  twenty-four  days,  if  you  think  it 
best.  My  mind  is  entirely  relieved." 

"  Take  old  Brown's  letter  then,  and  answer  it.  I'm  going  down 
to  Cuuard's  to  select  a  state-room  for  Miss  Norman  and  Miss 
Keith.  I'm  coming  back  in  an  hour  with  the  ticket.  And  she 
requests  you  to  take  the  ticket  to  her  at  noon  to-day.  Here's  her 
note.  *  Miss  Norman's  compliments,  and  will  Mr.  Skillet  please 


138  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

select  a  state-room  for  her  and  Miss  Keith,  by  the  China,  and 
Mr.  Gaston  please  bring  the  ticket  to-morrow  at  noon.'  That's 
all.  I  'spose  she  don't  propose  takiii'  you  to  Europe,  or  she  would 
order  another  state-room!  Git  out,  please!  I  must  write  a 
note !" 

When  Darcy  closed  the  door  behind  him,  Mr.  Skillet  indulged 
himself  in  a  noiseless  laugh. 

"  The  pesky  young  cuss !"  he  muttered ;  "  he  looked  so  blamed 
sorrowful  and  anxious,  that  I  pooty  nigh  let  the  cat  out  of  the 
bag.  I  have  been  thiukin'  all  along  that  he  was  swallered  up  in 
Miss  Norman,  and  that  she  kind  o'  leaned  towards  him.  But  he 
is  sweet  on  the  Harding  gal,  by  Gosh !  And  no  wonder.  I  fooled 
him  nicely  though,  sharp  as  he  is." 

Darcy's  cotemporaneous  meditations,  on  the  other  side  of  the 
door,  ran  in  this  wise  : 

"  The  blessed  old  brick !  He  knows  where  she  is.  She  is  safe ! 
She  is  safe !  He  has  taken  her  to  his  own  house !  I  saw  it  in  his 
eyes.  And  now  I  must  be  cautious,  and  not  let  him  discover  how 
much  I  know.  It  would  spoil  all  his  arrangements.  But  I'll  go 
up  there  to-night  and  may  get  a  peep  at  her  through  the  window. 
I  Tcnow  she  is  there,  but  it  would  be  a  comfort  just  to  see  her,  if 
only  for  one  moment." 

Mr.  Darcy  Gaston  prowled  around  Mr.  Timothy  Skillet's  resi 
dence  that  night  for  a  full  hour.  But  he  got  no  glimpse  of  Helen. 
Indeed,  he  would  have  needed  visual  organs  equal  to  the  double 
million  magnifying  glasses  of  Mr.  Samuel  Weller,  to  have  seen 
through  the  blocks  of  houses  on  Manhattan  Island,  across  the 
East  River,  and  through  the  walls  of  the  highly  respectable 
boarding-house  on  Jerryboblum  street,  Brooklyn,  where  Helen 
sat  demure  and  placid,  annotating  compositions  that  had  been 
presented  by  the  pupils  of  the  Jerryboblum  Institute  at  the  end 
of  the  last  session. 

But  Darcy  had  a  little  adventure  during  the  day.  At  noon  he 
visited  the  Fifth  Avenue  mansion,  in  obedience  to  Miss  Norman's 
mandate,  taking  the  steamer  ticket  with  him.  He  was  shown  into 
the  drawing-room,  where  he  found  Mr.  Squizzem  and  Mrs.  Brag- 
don.  They  merely  acknowledged  his  polite  salutation  with  the 
customary  society  nod,  and  then  resumed  their  colloquy,  totally 
ignoring  his  existence.  He  withdrew  to  the  front  window  so  as 
to  be  out  of  earshot,  and  they  immediately  began  to  discuss  him. 
Mrs.  Bragdon  learned  that  he  was  a  "  friend  of  Nina's,"  and  an  un- 


AN  ANGR  Y  HO  USEHOLD.  139 

believer  in  the  progress  of  ttye  age,  and  probably  a  sympathizer 
with  the  accursed  rebellion.  Nina  delayed  her  coming,  and  while 
he  still  waited,  Mr.  Bragdon  also  came  in,  and  honoured  Darcy 
with  a  very  searching  stare.  Then  Mr.  Squizzem  took  his  leave, 
and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bragdon  sat  idly  waiting  for  Nina,  intending 
to  discover  what  possible  business  the  handsome  young  stranger 
could  have  to  transact.  Then  Nina  came,  and  with  the  swift 
perception  of  her  sex,  read  the  thoughts  of  her  sister  and  brother- 
in-law,  and  with  equally  swift  perversity  postponed  her  iutended 
interview  with  Darcy.  She  took  the  steamer  ticket,  thanked  him 
for  his  "trouble,"  and  requested  him  to  inform  Mr.  Skillet  that 
she  would  decide  about  the  amount  of  British  gold  she  would 
require,  and  communicate  with  him.  And  so  she  dismissed  him. 
As  he  went  down  the  steps,  when  the  door  closed  behind  him, 
he  was  somewhat  surprised  to  see  a  black  eyed  and  red- whiskered 
man  on  the  corner,  tossing  his  arm  out  from  the  shoulder,  as  he 
placed  his  cigar  between  his  white  teeth,  and  staring  at  Darcy 
with  an  expression  of  countenance  that  was  partly  astonished, 
partly  indignant,  and  wholly  insolent. 


CHAPTEE     XXIX. 

AN  ANGRY  HOUSEHOLD. 

"TTPON  my  word,  Nina!"  said  Mr.  Bragdon,  "I  think  you 
vJ  might  treat  us  with  some  small  show  of  consideration, 
in  our  own  house !" 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  consideration  F  said  Nina,  composedly. 

"  I  mean  that  it  is  due  to  Mary  and  to  me,  to  present  your  visit 
ors,  when  we  happen  to  be  in  the  room !" 

"  And  what  do  you  mean  by  your  own  house  F  continued  Nina. 

Mr.  Bragdon's  face  became  crimson,  and  Mrs.  Bragdon  held  up 
her  hands. 

"  Until  the  estate  is  settled,  the  ownership  in  property  inherited 
by  Mary  and  me,  jointly,  cannot  be  determined  positively ;"  ob 
served  Nina,  after  a  short  pause. 

"  Exactly !"  replied  Mr.  Bragdou  ;  "  when  do  you  propose  to 
arrange  for  the  division  f ' 


140  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

11 1  am  waiting  for  a  proposition  from  you,"  replied  Nina,  cau 
tiously. 

"  I  suppose  the  courts  will  arrange  all  that.  But  this  has  noth 
ing  to  do  with  your  visitor.  My  idea  is,  that  some  slight  respect 
is  due  to  the  head  of  a  household,  from  all  the  members  of  it.  This 
— person — whoever  he  is,  may  be  an  improper  person,  and  we 
are  bound  to  maintain  appearances.  Nobody  knows  his  rank  in 
society !" 

"He is  probably  quite  equal  to  Mr.  Squizzem,"  retorted  Nina. 
"  In  all  that  constitutes  a  gentleman,  I  think  he  is  far  superior." 

"  Squizzem  is  a  fraud !"  said  Mr.  Bragdon,  violently  ;  "  if  I  had 
my  way,  he  would  never  show  his  smooth  face  in  this  house  again ! 
But  he  says  this  Gaskins  is  a  mere  Western  bumpkin,  an  ad 
venturer,  without  any  sort  of  position,  except  that  of  a  broker's 
clerk !" 

"  I  have  procured  a  ticket  for  Liverpool,"  said  Nina,  "  and  shall 
sail  on  Wednesday  next.  In  the  meantime,  I  shall  see  any  visit 
ors  I  please,  either  here  or  at  the  Fifth  Avenue  Hotel ;  and  I  shall 
not  be  at  home  to  Mr.  Squizzem,  either  here  or  there.  His  rank  in 
society  is  not  mine !" 

"  I  am  sure,  Nina,"  put  in  Mrs.  Bragdon,  "  that  Mr.  Squizzem  is 
admitted  everywhere.  He  is  somewhat  eccentric,  perhaps,  but  I 
believe  he  is  generally  considered  the  foremost  man  of  this  age." 

11  Foremost  Fiddlestick !"  said  Mr.  Bragdon,  irreverently  5  "  he  is 
the  most  stuck  up,  conceited  old  fraud  in  New  York  or  Brooklyn. 
Nothing  keeps  him  afloat,  but  his  unlimited  cheek !"  Mr.  Bragdon 
had  caught  some  of  the  slang  phrases  of  the  age,  which  he  em 
ployed  when  he  lost  his  temper.  At  other  times  he  rather  prided 
himself  upon  his  general  elegance  of  demeanour  and  language. 
Mr.  Squizzem  was  the  champion  kisser  of  the  age,  and  Mr.  Bragdon 
had  an  uncomfortable  suspicion  that  he  had  kissed  his  wife,  though 
he  did  not  know  it,  and  was  afraid  to  ask.  Mrs.  Bragdon  had  her 
little  tempers  too,  and  her  fortune  was  in  her  own  right.  And  she 
believed  in  Squizzem,  and  always  made  Mr.  Bragdou  escort  her  to 
his  lectures,  when  they  were  delivered  in  New  York. 

"I  think,"  continued  Mr.  Bragdon,  "that  a  fellow  that  goes 
about  town,  kissing  all  the  women  he  knows,  and  calling  them  by 
their  Christian  names,  ought  to  be  put  down  !" 

"Eeally,  John!"  said  his  wife,  tartly;  "you  allow  your  preju 
dices  to  overcome  your  reason.  Mr.  Squizzem  does  not  take  any 
improper  liberties  with  ladie's,  except  where  he  is  very  intimate. 


AN  ANGEY  HOUSEHOLD.  141 

Mr.  Dragger  kisses  all  the  members  of  his  congregation,  I  am 
told ;  Miss  Keith  says  so." 

Miss  Keith  quietly  glided  into  the  room  at  this  juncture. 

"  Miss  Abby,"  continued  Mrs.  Bragdon ;  "  did  you  not  say  that 
Mr.  Slam  Dragger  kissed  all  the  female  members  of  his  church  f 

"My  remark  was  scarcely  so  sweeping!"  replied  Miss  Abby. 
"I  don't  think  he  kisses  Mrs.  Grizzly;  she  is  about  ninety.  I 
think  he  rather  regards  her  with  reverence.  But  he  is  superior 
to  the  bondage  of  custom  or  conventional  rules.  He  kisses  his 
children,  and  the  members  of  his  congregation  are  in  one  sense 
his  children,  and  doubtless  he  feels  a  Father's  affection  for  them." 

"  Excepting  Mrs.  Grizzly !"  observed  Nina. 

"  Yes.  Probably  he  would  not  object  to  Mrs.  Grizzly  kissing 
him.  But  a  man  of  such  purity  of  mind  might  do  many  things 
that  would  not  be  proper  or  becoming  in  others.  He  is  so  entirely 
above  the  ordinary  class,  that  his  peculiarities  cannot  be  measured 
by  ordinary  rules.  The  true  soul-hunger  for  sympathy,  and  for 
the  spiritualistic  communings  of  the  higher  life,  must  be  esti 
mated  by  something  higher  and  grander  than  the  obsolete  laws  of 
society.  In  some  parts  of  the  world,  this  soul-intercourse  is  beauti 
fully  indicated,  among  the  untutored  inhabitants,  by  rubbing  their 
noses  together.  In  England  and  America,  the  inhabitants  usually 
shake  hands,  except  where  the  soul-throbs  pant  for  more  ex 
pressive  signs.  If  you  can  rise  above  the  prejudices  of  education 
and  custom,  you  will  readily  admit  that  the  contact  of  noses  is  as 
innocent  as  the  contact  of  hands,  and  kissing  is  only  the  contact 
of  lips.  So  long  as  one  can  rise  and  soar  into  those  unfathomable 
depths  of  the  spirit-life,  all  of  these  outward  manifestations  sink 
into  insignificance.  You  are  not  shocked  when  you  see  a  brother 
kiss  his  sister.  Now,  consider  all  men  and  women,  as  the  brothers 
and  sisters  of  one  great  family,  and  the  objections  all  disappear!" 

"  I  look  forward,"  said  Nina,  while  Miss  Abby  recovered  breath 
"  to  a  sojourn  in  Europe  with  more  pleasure,  because  I  shall  be 
out  of  reach  of  this  uncertain  state  of  morals !" 

"  Do  you  intend  Mr.  Gaskins  to  be  your  escort  f  said  Mr.  Brag 
don,  sarcastically. 

"  Perhaps.  I  have  not  met  Mr.  Gaskins  yet,  and,  therefore,  can 
not  decide.  But,  if  so,  you  will  not  be  required  to  disburse  any 
money  for  his  expenses ;  and,  I  suppose  this  point  being  settled, 
you  will  not  think  it  necessary  to  interfere  with  my  plans.  Mr. 
Coke  tells  me  that  I  can  immediately  have  all  the  money  I  need." 


142  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

"  It  is  a  strange  freak,  Nina  !"  said  Mr.  Bragdon,  "  and  your 
relations  and  friends  will  not  know  what  to  think — starting  off  to 
Europe  in  this  way,  in  winter,  alone " 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,"  said  Nina ;  "  Miss  Abby  kindly  consents 
to  accompany  me." 

"  Well,  that  does  not  change  the  case  materially ;  the  world 
will  say  that  you  have  quarrelled  with  us.  If  you  wait  until 
spring  Mary  and  I  will  probably  accompany  you." 

"  Many  thanks,"  replied  Nina,  coldly ;  "  but  I  prefer  my  pres 
ent  plans." 

"  And  how  long  shall  you  remain  abroad  ?" 

"  A  year ;  several  years,  perhaps.  I  shall  be  governed  in  that 
matter  only  by  my  own  inclinations." 

"  Of  all  the  cases  of  moon-struck  madness  !"  said  Mr.  Bragdon, 
in  a  towering  rage,  "  this  is  the  worst.  I  really  think  I  would  be 
justified  in  putting  you  under  restraint !" 

"  You  could  not  get  possession  of  my  inheritance  if  you  did," 
replied  Nina,  contemptuously ;  "  and  it  is  very  doubtful  whether 
any  court  would  give  you  control  of  my  person.  The  law  allows 
you  to  tyrannize  over  your  wife,  but  not  your  sister-in-law;  and, 
if  it  did,  I  would  go  to  some  country  beyond  the  reach  of  the  law." 

"  Nina  !"  said  Mrs.  Bragdon,  "  I  am  ashamed  of  you  !" 

"  And  I  am  sorry  for  you,  Mary,"  replied  Nina,  moving  to  the 
door.  "  Come,  Miss  Abby  !  we  will  go  to  the  hotel  before  din 
ner,  and  will  have  to  do  a  little  packing.  Mr.  Bragdon,  I  will  in 
struct  my  legal  adviser  to  see  you,  in  relation  to  a  partition  of  the 
personal  property,  at  least.  This  is  imperatively  necessary.  Ex 
cuse  me,  please  !"  she  continued,  as  he  started  forward  with 
inflamed  visage,  ''excuse  me;  I  am  not  well  enough  to  contend 
with  you  to-day,  and  I  must  really  decline  a  renewal  of  this  dis 
cussion.  Lawyers  can  arrange  everything  between  us,  without 
insulting  each  other.  Come,  Miss  Abby  !" 

"  John  !"  said  Mrs.  Bragdon,  "  you  have  really  gone  too  far !  I 
am  positively  shocked  !  Nina  !  if  you  leave  this  house  this  after 
noon  I'll  never  speak  to  you  again !  Never !" 

Nina  crossed  the  room  and  kissed  her  sister. 

"  I  do  not  expect  to  speak  to  you  again,  Mary,"  she  said,  gently; 
"  you  are  bound  to  stand  by  your  husband,  and  I  do  not  intend  to 
allow  him  to  speak  to  me  henceforth.  I  forgive  his  insolence  for 
your  sake,  but  we  are  strangers  from  this  hour.  Good  bye  !  Come, 
Miss  Abby !  The  atmosphere  of  this  house  maddens  me  1"  And 
she  swept  out  of  the  room. 


AN  ANGR  Y  HO  USEHOLD.  143 

"  Well !"  said  Mr.  Bragdon,  his  thin  lips  quivering,  "  well  !  of 
all  the  she-devils  I  ever  saw  or  heard  of,  Miss  Norman  is  the  most 
pronounced  !  It  will  avail  nothing  to  cry,  Mary  !  This  had  to 
come,  sooner  or  later  !  I  hear  a  squall  in  the  nursery.  You  had 
better  run  up.  Very  likely  your  amiable  sister  is  strangling  the 
baby !  And  I'll  go  see  Mr.  Coke." 

Mrs.  Bragdou,  catching  at  the  suggestion,  rushed  up  the  broad 
stairs.  The  infant  Bragdon  was  bawling  himself  black  in  the  face, 
because  he  could  not  swallow  his  fist.  He  inherited  temper. 
Nurse  was  offering  him  a  libation  of  catnip  tea,  dashed  with  pare 
goric,  and  he  had  just  knocked  the  spoon  out  of  her  hand,  and 
was  yelling  with  impotent  rage,  because  he  could  not  knock  off 
nurse's  head.  Nina  had  locked  herself  in  her  own  apartment,  and 
was  indulging  in  the  luxury  of  a  quiet  flood  of  tears.  Miss  Keith 
was  packing  a  trunk  in  business-like  fashion,  and  enlivening  Miss 
Norman  with  Dragger  quotations. 

"  The  infelicities  of  life,  my  dear,"  (she  said  "  my  dear,"  instead 
of  "  my  brethren  ")  "are  so  many  stepping-stones  to  the  higher 
spiritual  state.  Theology  is  always  lamentably  pugnacious;  and 
nearly  ail  the  disputes  in  the  world  have  their  origin  in  diversity 
of  creeds.  All  creeds  are  shackles.  The  economies  of  this  pres 
ent  life  all  tend  to  freedom ;  and  from  the  rich,  warm  soil  of  human 
consciousness,  spring  up  the  flowers  that  refuse  to  bloom  in  the 
arid  desert  of  creeds.  It  may  be  that  creeds  have  their  uses,  just 
as  the  murky  vapours  of  the  storm-cloud,  charged  with  devastat 
ing  forces  that  threaten  destruction  to  all  beneath  their  dismal 
canopy,  really  purify  the  circumambient  fluid,  and " 

u  If  I  only  knew !"  said  Nina,  suddenly  starting  up,  "  if  I  only 
knew,  positively,  what  my  grandmother  would  have  me  do,  all 
would  be  easy  and  plain  1" 

Miss  Abby  regarded  her  intently. 

"  Is  there  no  way  to  decide  the  question  f  continued  Nina. 
"  Can  1  find  out  possibly  what  she  would  do  with  that—  Miss 
Abby,  how  can  I  extricate  myself  from  these  toils  ?" 

"  What  do  you  wish  to  know  ?"  said  Miss  Abby. 

"  I  wish  to  have  some  clear  announcement  of — I  cannot  tell 
you  1  My  grandmother  gave  me  certain  directions  which  I  desire 
to  fulfill.  But  obstacles  have  arisen,  and  I  cannot  do  exactly  what 
she  required  me  to  do  ;  and  now  I  am  tormented  because  I  cannot 
decide  what  is  nearest  to  her  wish  that  is  still  possible.  Can  I 
find  out,  by  any  means,  what  her  wish  would  be  under  these 
changed  circumstances  V1 


144  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

"  Nothing  easier  P  said  Miss  Abby,  in  a  half  whisper.  "  Let  us 
finish  packing,  and  get  away.  You  can  have  your  doubts  resolved 
before  you  sleep !  Don't  ask  me  now,  I  will  tell  you  at  the  hotel, 
after  dinner.  Set  your  mind  at  rest." 


CHAPTEE  XXX. 
FOUND. 

A  FTEB  Darcy's  fruitless  promenade  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
-£A_  Mr.  Skillet's  residence,  walking  up  on  one  side  of  the  street, 
crossing,  and  then  down  on  the  opposite  side,  he  went  back  to 
Camden  street.  A  watchful  policeman,  who  had  followed  his 
monotonous  march  with  sleepless  vigilance,  trying  to  discover 
which  house  in  the  block  Darcy  intended  to  enter  burglariously, 
was  totally  discomfited  when  the  youth  turned  out  of  the  street. 
He  was  hopelessly  lost  in  the  throng  of  passengers  when  the 
officer  reached  the  corner. 

Arrived  at  Mr.  Camp's  quiet  fireside,  which  consisted  of  a  re 
gister  in  the  wall  of  the  living  room,  Darcy  watched  Mr.  Camp 
as  he  struggled  with  his  ode  to  Gentle  Spring.  The  appalling 
fact  that  death  was  the  only  known  rhyme  for  balmy  breath  re 
mained,  and  tortured  Mr.  Camp's  soul. 

"  What  rhymes  with  breath,  Mr.  Gaston  ?"  asked  Mr.  Camp. 

"  Death." 

"  That's  it !"  replied  Mr.  Camp,  grinding  his  teeth ;  "  it  seems 
to  me  the  words  were  invented  just  to  torment  a  fellow." 

"  What  is  the  trouble  ?"  said  Darcy,  kindly. 

"Why,  I  have  got  the  first  line  all  right,"  said  Mr.  Camp. 
11 1  Hail,  gentle  spring !  whose  balmy  breath ' ' 

"  Why  don't  you  change  it  V  said  Darcy.  "  Suppose  you  say, 
1  Hail,  gentle  spring !  whose  breath  of  balm.'" 

"  Urn !  Yes ;  that  might  do.  I  have  a  word  that  will  rhyme 
with  balm  ;  and  I've  had  it  in  my  mind  forty  times  to-night.  But 
I  guess  it  won't  do.  Have  you  seen  the  paper  ?  there  it  is.  Not 
much  news.  Dragger  is  going  to  make  a  speech,  over  to  Brook 
lyn  to-night,  on  l  Spondoolicks.'  If  it  wasn't  so  cold,  and  if  I  had 
this  thing  in  shape,  I'd  go." 

"  I've  never  been  in  Brooklyn,"  observed  Darcy.    "  Half  past 


FOUND.  145 

six.  Plenty  of  time.  I  believe  I'll  go.  I  should  like  to  hear 
Mr.  Dragger,  and  I  can't  spare  Sunday  for  that  sort  of  amuse 
ment." 

"  Great  man,  sirl"  said  Mr.  Camp.  "  Foremost  man  of  the  age  ! 
Great  treat  to  hear  him." 

"  Well,  Til  go,  then.    What  is  the  route  ?" 

"  Fulton  street  stage.  Take  the  horse-car  on  t'other  side.  Con 
ductor  can  tell  you.  Got  your  night-key?  All  right.  Good 
night!" 

Instead  of  the  Fulton  street  stage,  Darcy  took  his  own  elon 
gated  extremities,  and  strode  down  Broadway  at  a  good  pace.  A 
passenger  on  the  ferry  boat,  of  whom  he  made  inquiry,  was  going 
to  hear  Dragger,  too,  and  would  show  him  the  way.  Fine  night 
to  walk,  and  abundant  time,  so  they  declined  the  horse-car.  On 
a  corner,  half  a  mile  from  the  river,  Darcy  paused  to  admire  the 
exterior  of  a  church.  The  congregation  was  gathering,  going  in 
the  side  door  by  twos  and  threes. 

"  Doctor  Sturdy's  church,"  observed  the  stranger ;  "  he  is  a  good 
preacher,  but  s'uthiu'  of  a  Copperhead,  j^ever  would  histe  the 
flag  onto  his  steeple." 

"  Why,  he  is  the  very  man  I  have  been  desiring  to  hear,"  said 
Darcy ;  "  and  if  you  will  excuse  me,  I  think  I  will  go  in  here,  and 
postpone  Mr.  Dragger." 

"Jest  as  you  please,"  said  the  other,  "  but  Doctor  Sturdy  don't 
preach  politics.  Good  night." 

The  service  was  in  the  lecture  room,  in  the  basement.  Darcy 
took  a  seat  near  the  door.  The  room  filled  rapidly,  and  he  moved 
up  in  the  corner  to  make  room  for  two  ladies,  who  arrived  rather 
late,  escorted  by  an  elderly  gentleman.  Thick  veils  hid  their  faces 
— as  the  night  was  cold — but  before  she  threw  her's  back,  Darcy 
knew  that  he  was  sitting  beside  Helen  Kuthven.  She  had  not 
seen  him,  and  he  drew  farther  back,  and  shaded  his  face  with  his 
hand,  while  his  heart  struggled  to  get  out  of  his  body. 

Doctor  Sturdy  might  as  well  have  preached  to  a  stone  as  to 
Darcy.  He  did  not  see  him,  did  not  hear  the  sound  of  his  voice. 
When  the  hymns  were  sung,  he  heard  Helen's  voice,  and  nothing 
else.  And  while  the  discourse  was  being  delivered,  Darcy  was 
investigating  the  emotions  that  are  popularly  supposed  to  belong 
to  the  hydraulic  organ  that  was  thumping  against  his  ribs. 

He  was  conscious  of  a  blissful  feeb'ng  of  contentment.  The 
mere  fact  that  he  was  near  her  again  was  enough.  But  why  did 

10 


146  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

this  fact  make  him  oblivious  to  all  other  facts  ?  Was  it  because 
he  was  now  assured  of  her  safety  ?  No.  An  hour  ago  he  was 
perfectly  certain  that  she  was  under  Mr.  Skillet's  roof.  It  was 
not  that.  How  came  she  there  ?  How  did  it  chance  that  he  was 
there  to  find  her  ?  He  had  uo  faith  in  chance.  It  was  an  omen 
full  of  glorious  promise.  Did  Mr.  Skillet  know  where  she  was  ? 
Beyond  a  doubt  he  did.  Had  he  placed  her  in  Brooklyn  to  hide 
her  from  him  ?  Impossible  1  And  he  revolved  these  and  kindred 
questions  in  his  mind  during  the  forty  minutes  which  Doctor 
Sturdy  consumed  in  his  discourse.  Then  another  hymn,  a  plain 
tive  minor,  and  Helen's  voice  again,  and  suddenly  he  discovered 
that  he  loved  her. 

Loved  her !  of  course,  with  every  drop  of  his  blood  !  How 
blind  he  had  been !  He  had  been  loving  her  ever  since  that 
night  on  the  train.  The  first  glance  of  her  great  eyes  had  en 
slaved  him  for  life.  Now,  he  could  recall  the  thrill  that  passed 
through  his  frame  as  he  discovered  that  she  was  not  a  child,  but 
a  woman.  And  he  gave  full  play  to  the  tumultuous  thoughts  and 
memories  crowding  upon  his  mind,  and  rose  mechanically  with 
the  rest  when  the  benediction  was  pronounced.  As  she  passed 
out,  he  leaned  forward  and  whispered, 

"  Allow  me  to  escort  you." 

She  started  at  the  sound  of  his  voice,  and  turned,  facing  him. 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Uaston  1"  she  said,  "  I  did  not  expect  to  see  you 
here." 

"  Heaven  is  kinder  than  we  think,"  he  replied.  "  I  have  been 
very  unhappy  about  you,  and  now — may  I  walk  with  you  ?" 

"  Mrs.  Bruce,  this  is  Mr.  Gastou,  a  friend  of  my  father's.  He 
came  with  me  from  Kentucky." 

"  Happy  to  see  you,  Mr.  Gaston,"  said  the  elder  lady ;  <k  will 
you  walk  round  with  Miss  Harding  ?  We  will  follow  in  a  short 
time.  There  is  a  meeting  of  the  session,  and  I  will  wait  for  Mr. 
Bruce,  and  you  will  wait  at  home  for  us." 

Darcy  bowed,  offered  his  arm  to  Helen,  and  passed  out,  under 
the  stars.  There  were  several  millions  of  them,  and  he  thought 
they  were  all  winking  at  him.  He  winked  back. 

"  Did  Mr.  Skillet  tell  you — anything?"  said  Helen,  when  they 
were  in  the  street. 

•"  Nothing.  I  did  not  know  you  were  in  Brooklyn,  until  you  sat 
down  by  me.  Ah  !  then  I  knew." 

She  looked  at  him  inquiringly,  but  said  nothing. 


FOUND.  147 

"  Last  night,  when  I  learned  from  Mrs.  Camp  that  you  were 
gone,  and  that  she  did  not  know  where  you  went,  I  was  filled 
with  apprehensions.  I  spent  the  night  in  the  streets." 

u  In  the  streets  !"  said  Helen. 

"Yes.  I  wandered  about,  aimlessly,  hoping  some  fortunate 
chance  would  reveal  your  whereabouts  to  me.  Chance !  How 
dare  I  say  chance  !  I  mean,  I  hoped  for  Heavenly  guidance.  I 
dreaded  a,  thousand  evils,  to  all  of  which  I  thought  you  might  be 
exposed !  I  prayed  as  I  never  prayed  before,  only  asking  that  I 
might  get  where  my  arm  would  reach  you.  I  thought,  in  all  that 
vast  multitude  in  the  great  city,  I  alone  could  defend  you,  and 
that  I  would  gladly  peril  my  life,  if  need  be,  to  place  you  in  safety 
once  more.  Look  you  !  If  you  had  known  that  a  dog  was  suffer 
ing  the  tortures  I  endured  through  the  long  hours  of  darkness 
you  would  have  pitied  him  1" 

"I  did  not  think—"  said  Helen,  overcome  by  his  tremulous 
accents,  "  I  did  not  know  you  would " 

"  No  matter,  now,"  said  he,  "  my  prayers  are  all  answered  now! 
I  have  found  you  again." 

" J  was  obliged  to  come  away  from  that  place  in  Broadway.  I 
could  not  stay  longer,  and  Mr.  Skillet  brought  me  here.  I  have  a 
school,  and  am  so  thankful  for  the  occupation.  If  I  had  been 
allowed  to  select  for  myself,  I  could  not  have  asked  for  circum 
stances  so  favorable.  Mr.  Bruce  has  three  daughters  at  my 
school,  and  I  board  at  his  house." 

"  May  I  come  here  sometimes  f  said  Darcy,  timidly ;  "  pray  do 
not  say  no.  I  will  only  come  at  such  intervals  as  you  please  to 
appoint.  But  if  you  deny  me  !  Alas !  You  are  angry  because  I 
have  been  working  with  some  law  papers " 

"  I  have  no  interest  in  the  law  papers,"  said  she,  firmly  ;  "  I  am 
resolved  to  repudiate  all  connection  with  them." 

"I  will  abandon  the  matter  at  once,"  said  Darcy,  "  if  you  will 
only  look  kindly  upon  me  once  more.  I  do  not  know  of  any  pos 
sible  interest  you  can  have  in  the  property.  But  I  will  quit  the 
search  if  you  wish  me  to  do  so.  It  is  all  mysterious  to  me,  and  I 
am  sick  of  it,  anyhow." 

"  You  say  you  do  not  know  of  any  interest  I  can  have,"  said 
Helen,  doubtfully  ;  "  why  did  you  ask  mo  about  the  property,  a 
few  days  ago  F 

"  I  cannot  tell  you,"  answered  Darcy,  in  some  confusion,  "  be 
cause  my  duty  to  my  client  keeps  me  silent." 
"  If  you  relinquish  the  case  I"  said  she. 


148  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

"Even  then,"  replied  Darcy,  "I  should  be  bound  to  remain 
silent.  I  am  so  much  mortified  to  find  that  you  think  me  capable 
of  fraud " 

u  I  never  said  that,"  objected  Helen ;  "  I  said  your  client  pro 
posed  fraud.  I  am  sure  of  that  at  least.  Here  is  the  house.  I 
cannot  decide  at  once  about  your  visits.  But  I  think  you " 

"  Please  allow  that  point  to  remain  unsettled,"  said  Darcy, 
earnestly.  "  I  will  not  come  for  a  long,  long  time.  But  let  me 
come  again,  if  it  is  only  to  learn  that  I  must  come  no  more." 

"  You  will  have  to  come  in  now,"  answered  Helen ;  "  Mrs.  Bruce 
told  you  to  wait  for  her.  It  would  be  rude  to  refuse.  And  about 
the  property,  I  think  you  had  better  ascertain  what  the  legal 
rights  are ;  and  I  rely  upon  you  to  tell  me  exactly  my  position 
with  reference  to  it,  or  to  any  part  of  it.  Can  you  engage  to  do 
this  P 

"  Certainly.  If  I  find  you  have  any  interest,  or  are  in  any  way 
concerned  in  the  distribution,  I  will  tell  you  first." 

"  Before  you  tell  your  client  ?" 

"  You  are  my  first  client !"  answered  Darcy,  passionately. 
"  Your  claims  upon  me  override  all  other  claims.  Oh,  Helen !  if  I 

dared ,  but  I  do  not  dare  !  I  may  come,  then — when  I  finish 

my  investigation  P 

"  Yes."  She  looked  at  him,  astonished  at  his  excitement,  as  he 
caught  her  hand  and  pressed  it  against  his  breast. 

"  Then  I  will  come  to-morrow  evening,"  said  Darcy,  trium 
phantly;  "I  will  open  the  sealed  envelope  this  blessed  night. 
What  street  is  this  ?" 

"  Jeryboblum." 

"  Four  doors  from  the  corner.    I  feel  like  making  poetry — 

"  '  Hail !  gentle  Spring,  whose  balmy  breath *'  " 

Helen  led  the  way  into  the  house,  feeling  her  heart  sink,  as  she 
recognised  the  evident  tokens  of  inebriation.  So  young  a  man, 
and  so  short  a  time  in  that  wicked  city,  and  already  a  victim  to 
the  prevalent  vice  of  the  age !  Would  it  be  very  improper  if  she 
should  write  to  Henry  Gaston,  Esq.,  begging  him  to  use  his  influ 
ence  with  his  young  brother,  and  warn  him  against  the  horrid 
demon  of  drink ! 

Meantime,  Darcy,  in  the  pangs  of  delirium  that  Helen's  eyes 
had  created,  sat  quiet  in  the  handsome  parlour,  while  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bruce  put  him  through  a  polite  catechism,  touching  the 
main  points  in  Doctor  Sturdy's  excellent  discourse.  It  was  a 


MEDIUMS.  149 

tough  ordeal,  but  he  passed  it  safely,  chiefly  because  the  old 
couple  were  won  by  his  handsome  countenance  and  sparkling 
eyes.  When  he  arose  to  depart,  they  cordially  invited  him  to 
repeat  his  visit.  He  shook  hands  with  them,  and  with  Helen,  who 
went  to  her  room  immediately,  mourning  that  this  promising 
youth  should  put  a  thief  into  his  mouth  to  steal  away  his  brains- 
Darcy  walked  back  to  Camden  street,  audibly  invoking  "  Gentle 
Spring,"  at  every  step,  while  the  frosty  air  made  his  ears  tingle. 


CHAPTER   XXXI. 

MEDIUMS. 

rpHERE  had  been  some  "  business"  relations,  of  a  questionable 
-L  character,  betwixt  Mr.  Eupert  Grey  and  Doctor  Lamis. 
The  latter  had  been  regimental  surgeon  early  in  the  war,  and 
Mr.  Grey  was  commissary.  The  accounts  which  were  rendered, 
certified  "  upon  honor,"  and  supported  by  vouchers  in  duplicate, 
were  according  to  the  regulations,  but  it  was  said  by  some  ill- 
natured  copperheads,  that  they  had  been  "cooked,"  and  both 
officers  resigned  in  indignant  haste,  after  a  short  service.  As  Mr. 
Grey  had  no  experience  in  culinary  matters,  whatever  cooking  was 
done,  was  done  by  Doctor  Lamis,  who  got  a  portion  of  broth  for 
his  pains.  He  had  been  quite  impecunious  before  the  war,  but  he 
had  bought  the  residence  in  Brooklyn  since  his  retirement  from 
the  array,  which  he  had  paid  for,  opened  a  spiritualistic  medium 
shop,  and  joined  Mr.  Dragger's  church.  That  is,  he  took  a  pew. 
When  Mr.  Grey  blossomed  into  Mr.  Blake,  he  went  directly  to  the 
Brooklyn  residence  for  two  reasons:  First,  because  it  was  in  a 
retired  street,  and  he  had  reasons  for  keepiug  out  of  view;  and 
second,  because,  being  dead,  he  thought  some  one  might  desire  to 
commune  with  his  spirit,  and  he  desired  to  be  on  hand  when  the 
occasion  arrived. 

Doctor  Lamis  had  a  seance  on  each  Wednesday  night,  and 
when  Darcy,  as  recorded  in  the  previous  chapter,  was  giving  un 
divided  attention  to  Doctor  Sturdy's  Wednesday  evening  lecture, 
Doctor  Larais  was  stirring  up  the  ghosts  in  a  neighbouring  street. 
There  were  two  ladies,  closely  veiled,  who  had  come  in  a  carriage, 
and  they  sat  apart  from  the  rest,  while  the  first  relay  of  spirits 


150  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

were  being  interrogated.  The  "test  medium"  was  a  slender, 
hollow-eyed  woman,  twenty-five  probably,  who  seemed  to  be  on 
tolerably  intimate  terms  with  spirits  that  had  shuffled  off  their 
mortal  coils  at  periods  more  or  less  remote,  as  well  as  with  those 
whose  departures  from  the  present  sphere  had  been  recent. 

With  the  questions  and  responses  that  occupied  the  earlier  part 
of  the  seance,  the  present  story  has  nothing  to  do.  The  hollow- 
eyed  young  woman  was  evidently  out  of  health,  and  at  nine 
o'clock  Doctor  Lamis  announced  that  she  was  too  much  indis 
posed  to  continue  her  mediation.  The  larger  part  of  the  com 
pany  retired,  leaving  the  two  veiled  ladies,  who  had  thus  far 
received  no  benefit  from  their  attendance.  There  was  a  fee 
always  paid  at  the  door  on  entrance,  and  Doctor  Lamis  approach 
ed  them  to  give  them  some  small  return  for  their  outlay,  in  the 
form  of  spiritual  lore. 

"There  was  some  obstacle  to-night,  ladies,"  he  said,  bowing, 
"  that  prevented  as  clear  manifestations  as  usual.  You  did  not 
take  part  ?" 

"  No,"  answered  the  shorter  lady ;  "  we  wished  to  wait  until  we 
could  have  a  more  private  seance.  My  friend  thought  you  could 
perhaps  furnish  another  medium " 

"  It  is  not  customary  to  renew  the  seances.  The  spirits  do  not 
respond  so  readily.  You  should  have  joined  the  circle  when  you 
arrived." 

"  We  understand,"  responded  the  taller  lady,  "  that  the  seance 
is  over.  We  would,  if  convenient,  renew  the  sitting,"  and  she  held 
out  her  hand  with  a  crisp,  new  ten  dollar  note  in  her  gloved 
fingers.  The  Doctor  instinctively  took  the  money. 

"  It  is  irregular,"  he  muttered  ;  "  but  if  you  will  excuse  me  for  a 
few  minutes,  I  will  see  what  can  be  done,"  and  he  Left  the  room. 

The  Doctor  was  absent  a  full  half-hour.  Just  before  his  reap 
pearance,  the  ladies  noticed  the  solitary  burner  that  was  lighted, 
gradually  growing  dim.  They  both  manifested  some  uneasiness, 
and  were  about  to  retire  from  the  gloomy  room,  when  he  re-en 
tered,  followed  by  a  tall  old  gentleman,  perfectly  bald,  but 
adorned  with  a  silvery  beard  flowing  down  upon  his  breast.  He 
wore  a  black  robe,  with  loose  sleeves,  something  like  the  gown  of 
a  priest.  A  pair  of  spectacles  with  side  shades  concealed  his 
eyes.  He  supported  his  steps  with  a  long  staff,  though  he 
exhibited  no  signs  of  feebleness,  as  he  crossed  the  room,  and  took 
the  seat  lately  occupied  by  the  test  medium.  The  light  gre\v 
dimmer. 


MEDIUMS.  151 

"  I  cannot  promise  success,  ladies,"  said  the  Doctor  gravely,  in 
a  low  tone ;  "  but  my  venerable  preceptor  consents  to  make  the 
effort.    Will  you  please  sit  at  the  table,  and  remove  your  veils  I" 
"  Is  that  imperatively  necessary  W  said  the  taller  lady,  as  she 
took  the  seat  indicated. 

"  No  1"  replied  the  old  man,  in  a  husky  voice ;  "  it  will  make  no 
difference.  Place  your  hands  on  the  table,  thus  !  Now  remain 
quiet" 

After  five  or  ten  minutes  of  silence,  there  was  a  ticking  sound 
on  the  table,  like  the  click  of  a  telegraphic  instrument. 

"Proceed  !"  said  the  old  man;  "mention  no  names,  but  state 
your  wishes.  With  whom  do  you  wish  to  commune  ?" 

"  With  him  I  sent  on  a  mission  recently,  from  whom  I  received 
one  message." 

The  ticking  sound  on  the  table  continued,  while  the  old  man 
sat  mute,  his  white  beard  floating  over  his  breast,  his  head  bowed 
down. 

&  I  found  not  that  for  which  you  sent  me,  but  I  found  the  next," 
he  muttered.  "  WThat  do  you  desire  ?" 

"  The  next !"  said  the  tall  lady,  in  visible  excitement.  "Where 
is  the  next  T 

"  In  due  time  you  shall  know  fully.    You  know  much  already." 
"  Then  I  am  right,"  said  the  lady.    "  When  shall  I  know  ?" 
"It  depends  upon    yourself,"  replied    the    medium,    huskily. 
"  When  your  purpose  is  distinct  and  positive,  summon  me  again." 
"  One  word  more,"  said  the  lady;  "  is  the  person  I  seek  in  New 
York?" 

"  You  know !"  was  the  response  ;  "  violate  not  the  truth,  even  in 
your  thought.  Ask  me  only  that  which  you  do  not  know." 

The  lady  was  silent.    There  was  a  crash  on  the  table,  that 
sounded  like  the  blow  of  an  open  palm.  The  ticking  sound  ceased. 
"  Gone !"  said  the  old  man.    "  What  more  F 
"  I  should  like  to  ask  a  question  of — of — a  relation  who  was 
dear  to  me.    But  I  shrink  from  the  thought." 

"  Courage  and  truth  need  know  no  fear,"  replied  the  man. 
"  One  question  only,"  said  the  lady,  hurriedly ;  "  if  I  may." 
There  was  a  longer  silence.    Then  a  little  musical  box  standing 
on  the  mantel  began  to  play.    It  was  a  plaintive  air,  and  when  it 
was  finished  the  click  of  the  spring  that  stopped  the  machinery 
was  distinctly  heard. 
Another  brief  interval  of  silence,  and  then  there  were  light  ticks 


152  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

heard  on  the  table.  All  the  surroundings  were  impressr 'e.  The 
darkened  room,  the  quiet  so  profound  that  the  occupants  heard 
each  other  breathe.  The  veiled  women  bending  over  the  table 
with  white  hands  outspread  upon  its  polished  surface.  The  old 
medium,  with  snowy  beard,  his  head  bent  down,  waiting. 

"  Eeluctant !"  he  murmured ;  "  nevertheless,  ask  your  question." 

"  I  cannot  do  exactly  what  was  required  of  me,"  said  the  lady 
slowly,  "  and  I  am  doubtful  about  my  duty!" 

"  Fulfil  the  will !"  answered  the  medium.  There  was  another 
blow  upon  the  table,  and  the  ticking  ceased.  "  We  are  alone,"  he 
continued,  pushing  his  chair  back  from  the  table.  They  all  arose, 
and  the  old  man,  with  stately  dignity,  walked  out  of  the  room. 
The  gas  gradually  grew  more  brilliant,  and  the  two  ladies,  bidding 
the  Doctor  good  night,  departed.  As  they  passed  through  the  hall, 
the  taller  lady  was  several  steps  in  advance.  Doctor  Lamis  held 
the  outer  door  open  for  her  egress.  A  side  door  in  the  hall  swung 
back,  as  the  shorter  lady  passed,  and  she  saw  the  old  man,  stand 
ing  within  the  dark  room.  He  arrested  her  steps  an  instant,  beck 
oning  her  nearer. 

"  Come  alone  to-morrow  night,"  he  whispered,  and  immediately 
retired,  closing  the  door  noiselessly.  The  carriage  was  at  the  curb, 
and  the  ladies  entered  and  drove  off. 

"Now,  Nina,"  said  Miss  Keith,  "tell  me  just  what  you  think 
about  all  this !" 

"Wait  a  little,  Miss  Abby,"  replied  Nina;  "  everything  is  so 
strange !  I  cannot  make  up  my  mind.  I  am  not  sure  that  I  have 
done  right  to  come.  Yet  I  feel  better  satisfied,  too.  I  must  sleep 
upon  it.  To-morrow  I  will  tell  you." 

When  Doctor  Lamis  closed  the  door,  he  went  back  to  the  side 
room,  and  found  the  venerable  medium  divesting  himself  of  spec 
tacles  and  beard.  He  turned  up  the  gas,  drew  a  comfortable  arm 
chair  to  the  register,  and  lighted  his  cigar.  The  Doctor  watched 
his  proceedings  in  silence. 

"Well,  Lamis,"  said  the  medium,  "you  have  had  a  tolerably 
successful  night.  Those  last  goers  appeared  to  be  liberal." 

"  They  did  not  pay  enough  to  compensate  me  for.  the  fright," 
answered  the  Doctor;  "  you  are  certainly  the  most  brazen  man  of 
my  acquaintance.  Did  you  know  them  ?" 

The  other  straightened  out  his  arm,  and  bringing  his  fingers  to 
his  mouth  with  elegant  deliberation,  removed  his  cigar,  and  ble\v 
out  a  succession  of  smoke  rings.  Replacing  the  weed,  with  the 
same  elaborate  precision,  he  shook  his  head,  negatively. 


MEDIUMS.  153 

"Then  what  the  deuce  did  you*  mean  by  t fulfilling  the  willf 
The  first  thing  I  thought  when  you  began,  was,  that  you  knew 
the  parties." 

"Through  their  veils?"  said  Rupert;  "pooh!  You  don't  make 
any  allowance  for  a  fellow's  discernment.  When  you  get  two 
women  together,  all  you  have  to  do,  is  to  let  them  contradict  each 
other  a  short  time,  to  find  out  whatever  you  want  to  know." 

"  But  they  didn't  talk  at  all.  One  of  them  never  said  a  word/' 
persisted  Doctor  Lamis ;  "  what  did  you  mean  by  the  will  ?" 

Another  pause,  while  Rupert  went  through  his  graceful  per 
formance  with  his  cigar,  and  blew  off  another  series  of  rings. 
There  was  an  air  of  cold  blooded  insolence  in  all  that  he  did,  that 
was  highlj*  attractive. 

"  Hum !"  he  said,  thoughtfully ;  "  the  will !  "Well,  I  know  very 
little  about  the  will,  and  I  have  been  meditating  upon  that  very 
topic  since  the  ladies  left.  It*  you  will  wait  twenty-four  hours  I 
may  be  able  to  tell  you  more.  As  for  the  existence  of  a  will,  that 
was  clearly  revealed  by  the  tall  lady's  questions.  I  intend  to 
know  more  about  the  will  to-morrow ;  and,  in  fact,  I  invited  the 
other  one  to  return  tomorrow  night  alone." 

"You  did!"  said  the  other,  aghast;  "when  did  you  give  the 
invitation  ?" 

"  While  you  were  doing  the  polite  at  the  door.  Bless  you, 
she'll  come  !  Curiosity  will  bring  her,  if  nothing  else;  and  what 
ever  she  knows,  I  shall  know,  I  presume." 

"  You  are  mighty  close  and  mysterious,  Grey,"  said  the  Doctor, 
irritably :  "  I  believe  there  is  some  trick  about  this  business." 

"  Well,"  responded  Grey,  coolly  ;  "  suppose  there  is  ?  It  seems 
to  me  that  you  have  not  lost  much  thus  far.  You  said  they  gave 
you  a  new  fee  before  I  went  in.  How  much  !" 

"  Five  dollars,"  said  Doctor  Lamis,  keeping  back  a  part  of  the 
price.  Rupert  had  an  easy  habit  of  borrowing,  and  no  sort  of  a 
habit  of  paying. 

"  I  don't  want  any,"  observed  Rupert ;  "  you  may  collar  all  the 
dollars,  and  I  will  take  my  share  in  information.  Don't  be  so  sus 
picious  !  I  am  telling  you  the  exact  truth.  There  is  some  sort  of 
a  will,  and  if  judiciously  managed,  there  may  be  some  profit  in  it. 
But  I  don't  know  its  provisions,"  and  here  he  removed  his  cigar, 
ground  his  teeth  savagely,  and  replaced  it.  "  I  have  a  suspicion 
that  I  know  some  things  about  it;  but  I  don't  know  enough. 
Ah!"  he  concluded,  with  a  gentle  sigh,  "let  us  be  patient. 
Patience  always  conquers." 


154  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

"  Perhaps  you  can  explain  what  you  meant  by  l  not  finding 
that  for  which  you  were  sent,  and  finding  the  next.'  There  must 
have  been  something  in  that,  for  the  young  woman  was  impressed." 

Rupert  leaned  back,  and  laughed. 

"My  dear  Lamis,"  he  said;  "you  do  not  discriminate!  You 
saw  me  before  I  put  on  these,"  and  he  touched  the  beard  and 
glasses,  and  you  knew  who  was  behind  them.  But  these  ladies 
had  no  reason  to  suspect  anything  unreal.  They  were  already 
somewhat  awed  by  your  former  operations,  and  when  I  came  in, 
they  were  prepared  for  some  stunning  revelations.  All  I  had  to 
do  was  to  keep  solemn,  and  say  nothing.  All  that  tomfoolery 
about  "  the  next "  was  just  as  good  as  any  other  humbug.  When 
I  found  I  was  getting  out  of  my  depth,  I  dismissed  the  spirit,  and 
broke  up  the  seance.  What  the  deuce !  Do  you  wish  to  mon 
opolize  all  the  humbug !  Let's  go  to  bed !" 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 
THE  SEALED  ENVELOPE. 

DARCY  reached  Camden  street  in  due  time,  that  is,  an  hour 
before  midnight.  Mr.  Camp  had  been  floored  by  the  balmy 
breath  of  gentle  spring,  and  was  dreaming  of  stocks  and  bonds. 
It  is  a  remarkable  fact  in  psychology  that  poets  never  dream 
poetry,  but  invariably  fall  back  upon  the  prosaic  events  of  daily 
life  and  occupation  when  they  get  into  dreamland.  So  Mr.  Camp 
bothered  his  restless  brains,  even  while  he  slept,  in  calculating 
safe  margins  on  stock  operations,  and  the  shrill  whistle  of  the 
winter  blast  that  shook  his  windows  suggested  no  thought  of  the 
rhymeless  breath  of  the  coming  season.  Anyhow,  it  was  far  more 
satisfactory  to  make  furtive  dives  after  the  missing  or  reluctant 
syllable  during  business  hours,  as  there  was  always  present  to 
Mr.  Camp's  mind  the  conviction  that  Mr.  Skillet  would  put  him 
in  a  lunatic  asylum  if  he  ever  caught  him  in  the  fine  frenzy  of 
poetic  composition. 

Mr.  Gaston  locked  the  street  door,  and,  taking  off  his  boots, 
ascended  the  stairs  in  his  stocking-feet.  He  was  tired,  and,  like 
all  heedless  boys,  he  threw  off  his  overcoat,  and  stretched  himself 


THE  SEALED  ENVELOPE.  155 

at  full  length  on  the  lounge  to  rest.  The  register  in  his  room  was 
open,  fortunately,  but  as  he  fell  asleep  in  two  minutes,  and 
slept  profoundly  three  hours,  he  contracted  a  very  respectable 
cold.  There  was  an  alarm  of  fire  in  the  neighborhood,  and  the 
rattle  of  the  engines  under  his  window  aroused  him,  and  consult 
ing  his  watch,  he  found  it  was  two  o'clock.  Starting  up,  he  got 
out  Nina's  packet,  and  selecting  the  sealed  envelope,  he  opened 
it,  and  took  out  the  documents  it  contained. 

There  were  several  papers,  all  written  in  Nina's  hand.  He  took 
up  the  first,  which  was  endorsed  "  Extracts  from  the  will."  As 
he  glanced  over  this  paper,  he  noticed  the  absence  of  names,  and 
the  substitution  of  initials  wherever  the  description  of  persons 
was  necessary. 

"  I  give  and  bequeath  to  A.  B.  all  that  parcel  of  land  known  as 
Number  One,  with  all  the  improvements  thereon,  and  I  direct  my 
executors  to  give  a  clear  title  to  this  property,  free  of  all  charge 
for  taxes,  assessments  or  commissions,  to  the  said  A.  B.  And  if 
from  any  cause  this  transfer  shall  be  delayed,  either  by  reason  of 
any  difficulty  in  finding  the  said  A.  B.,  or  by  reason  of  his  refusal 
to  accept  the  same,  or  on  any  other  account,  I  direct  my  executors 
to  fulfil  these  instructions  at  date  of  transfer,  whenever  that  may 
be.  And  if  the  growth  of  the  city  in  that  direction  shall  enhance 
the  value  of  this  parcel  of  ground  a  hundred  fold  before  the  date 
of  this  transfer,  I  charge  my  executors  to  disregard  this  fact.  And 
I  expressly  forbid  any  compromise  or  composition,  such  as  the 
substitution  of  other  property  for  this  parcel  Number  One,  or  the 
assessment  of  money  value,  with  or  without  the  knowledge  and 
concurrence  of  said  A.  B.,  or  any  other  settlement  than  the  trans 
fer  of  the  ground  itself,  every  acre,  rood,  perch  or  square  inch,  as 
fully  described  in  the  mortgage  from  the  father  of  said  A.  B.  to 
me,  and  also  in  the  'formal  release  of  title,  signed  by  the  said  A. 
B.  and  his  mother,  then  a  widow." 

"  Ituth ven's  Folly !"  said  Darcy ;  "  we  are  getting  along.  Num 
ber  One  is  identified,  anyhow.  And  now  to  pin  Mr.  A.  B." 

He  took  up  the  old  deeds,  and  looking  through  them,  found  the 
release  of  title. 

"Darcy  lluthvcn!  A.  B.  Ah!  I  begin  to  see  light,"  said 
Darcy.  "  Now,  I  wonder  if  I  am  justified  in  going  any  further? 
She  has  substituted  these  initials  for  the  very  purpose  of  conceal 
ing  from  mo  the  true  names,  not  knowing  that  the  deeds  would  re 
veal  them  to  me.  Oh,  Helen !  it  is  really  in  your  interest  that  I 


156  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

am  working  now!  If  this  will  is  valid — then  Helen  is  an  heiress 
and  I  shall  be  stricken  dumb.  I  must  read  to  the  end  now." 

The  next  extract  from  the  will  contained  a  description  of  the 
house  erected  upon  the  property,  and  a  memorandum  of  the  cost 
of  building,  which  amounted  to  forty  thousand  dollars.  Then  fol 
lowed  memoranda  relating  to  the  removal  of  various  liens,  some 
held  by  bankers,  and  some  imposed  by  the  builders  in  default  of 
payment.  All  of  these  were  recorded  as  against  "  C.  D.,  his  heirs, 
executors,  administrators  or  assigns."  It  appeared  from  one  of 
the  other  papers  that  the  whole  property,  Number  One,  had  finally 
been  sold  under  process  of  law,  by  the  sheriff,  to  satisfy  these  num 
erous  claims,  and  "  bought  by  me  at  said  Sheriff's  sale,  as  recorded 
in  a  certain  Court,  and  by  me  transferred  to  said  A.  B.'s  father 
for  the  consideration  named  in  a  mortgage  executed  on  the  same 
date,  with  bond  attached,  &c." 

"  This  costly  house,"  continued  the  record,  "  gave  the  name  to 
this  estate." 

"  Euthven's  Folly  !  Built  by  the  elder  Euthven,"  said  Darcy  to 
himself,  "  and  thereby  involving  the  estate,  and  creating  these 
various  liens.  It  seems  that  this  testator  either  stepped  in  to  save 
the  builder  from  ruin,  or — to  get  a  valuable  property  at  a  nominal 
price." 

"  Although  the  title  to  this  property,  Number  One,"  continued 
the  record,  "  is  legally  in  me,  yet  the  present  value  is  so  far  beyond 
all  my  outlays,  that  a  large  sum  is  due,  in  equity,  to  the  former 
owner.  It  was  also  agreed  between  the  father  of  A.  B.  and  my 
self,  that  my  apparent  ownership  should  remain  until  his  son  was 
of  age;  and  to  reimburse  me  for  all  my  expenditures,  certain 
other  parcels  of  ground  were  transferred  to  me.  But  when  A.  B. 
attained  his  majority,  I  refused  to  execute  the  deed  for  prudential 
reasons,  and  A.  B.  and  his  mother  united  in  a  formal  relinquish- 
ment  of  all  claims  upon  Number  One,  after  prolonged  discussion, 
conducted  in  very  bad  temper  on  both  sides. 

"But  my  purpose  has  always  been  fixed  to  restore  this  property 
whenever  it  could  be  safely  done.  A.  B.  removed  to  Cincinnati, 
and  is  now  practising  law  in  that  city.  The  final  altercation  be 
tween  us  was  of  so  serious  a  nature  as  to  preclude  the  possibility 
of  friendly  conference  on  either  side.  And  this  tardy  justice  is 
done  to  A.  B.  in  the  hope  that  death  will  have  softened  all  asperi 
ties  between  us. 

"  And  if  it  should  happen  that  A.  B.  also  has  departed  this 


THE  SEALED  ENVELOPE.  157 

life,  when  the  provisions  of  this  will  are  to  be  carried  out,  then  I 
hereby  direct  ray  executors  to  see  that  his  heir,  or  whosoever 
shall  bear  his  name,  shall  be  placed  in  peaceable  possession  of 
Number  One,  according  to  the  instructions  hereinbefore  given. 

"  And  failing  this — that  is  to  say,  if  no  heir  or  representative  of 
the  said  A.  B.  can  be  found,  I  then  direct  my  executors  to  pay  to 
Rupert  Grey,  during  his  life,  a  sum  equal  to  the  annual  interest 
(at  seven  per  centum )  on  the  assessed  value  of  said  property,  in 
quarterly  payments  year  by  year,  while  the  property  itself  shall 
remain  in  possession  of  my  natural  heirs." 

There  was  a  note  appended  in  parenthesis. 

("  This  last  provision  is  expressly  revoked  in  a  codicil.") 

The  paper  ended  here.  Darcy  read  it  all  over  again,  and  tried 
to  recall  the  explanations  that  Helen  gave.  Colonel  Ruthven  had 
died  in  the  assurance  that  this  property  was  wrongfully  wrested 
from  him,  and  in  undoubted  enmity  against  the  testator.  Darcy 
remembered  a  dozen  stories,  told  him  by  his  own  father,  of  Ruth- 
ven's  haughty  refusal  to  receive  fees,  honestly  earned,  when  his 
clients  intimated  that  they  were  excessive.  He  was  morbidly  sen 
sitive  upon  all  topics  in  which  money  was  involved ;  and  it  is 
probable  that  the  dispute  with  Mr.  Norman  over  this  identical 
property  had  heightened  this  sensibility.  The  reader  will  remem 
ber  that  Mr.  Coke  held  a  note  from  him,  rejecting  with  disdain  a 
quasi  proposal  to  restore  Ruthven's  Folly,  which  was  made  by 
Mrs.  Norman,  recently  deceased  5  but  neither  Colonel  Ruthven 
nor  Darcy  had  the  slightest  idea  of  the  present  value  of  the  prop 
erty,  which  had  enhanced  enormously  since  the  war  began.  And 
in  the  first  flush  of  his  military  ardour,  Colonel  Ruthven  was  more 
earnestly  set  upon  the  destrution  of  this  special  house,  where  his 
school  days  were  spent,  because  it  was  now  in  possession  of  those 
who  were  doubly  his  enemies,  who  insulted  him  with  suggestions 
of  an  "amicable  settlement"  at  the  very  beginning  of  hostilities. 

But  what  was  Nina's  design  ?  So  far  as  the  will  went,  there 
was  no  need  of  anything  beyond  ordinary  formalities,  to  give  the 
property  into  Helen's  possession.  She  seemed  to  dread  some  in 
terference,  but  certainly  no  claim  could  be  set  up  that  could  over 
throw  the  will. 

There  was  a  second  paper,  however.  Darcy  took  it  from  the 
envelope,  and,  unfolding  it,  found  it  was  a  note  addressed  to  him 
self. 

"  Mr.  Gaston  will  have  discovered,"  it  ran,  "  from  the  extracts 


158  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

given,  that  some  irregularity  must  have  attended  the  transfer  of 
Number  One ;  but  I  have  learned  that  the  title  is  undoubtedly  in 
the  estate  not  yet  divided.  The  will  has  no  value,  as  a  legal  doc 
ument,  as  a  later  will  was  made,  giving  sole  possession  of  all  the 
estate  to  my  grandmother.  I  have  given  Mr.  Gaston  all  these  ex 
tracts,  and  have  specially  followed  the  references  to  property  Num 
ber  One,  because  I  wish  him  to  devise  some  method  whereby  I  can 
have  certain  special  parcels  of  property  conveyed  to  me,  so  that  I 
may  be  able  to  sell  or  otherwise  dispose  of  them,  without  consult 
ing  the  desires  of  other  heirs  to  the  same  property.  And  if  Mr. 
Gastou  will  prepare  such  documents  as  may  be  needed  to  effect 
this,  I  shall  be  greatly  obliged  to  him.  Take  Number  One  as  an 
illustration,  and  perfect  the  papers  that  will  convey  to  me,  in  my 
sole  right,  the  ownership  to  that,  and  by  this  means  the  transfers 
of  other  parcels  will  readily  follow. 

"  And  Mr.  Gaston  will  doubtless  understand  that  I  desire  to 
obtain  exclusive  possession  of  this  or  any  other  property  belonging 
to  the  estate,  at  the  proper  value,  and  not  otherwise.  In  fact,  the 
only  obstacle  to  be  feared  is  the  possibility  that  others  who  have 
a  joint  interest  with  me,  may  also  desire  special  portions — for  ex 
ample  :  Number  Oue.  In  which  event,  it  is  my  earnest  desire  to 
pay  out  of  my  own  inheritance  as  much  more  than  the  actual 
value,  as  may  compensate  the  other  parties  in  interest  for  their 
relinquishment  of  a  similar  preference.  But  I — for  special  reasons 
— object  to  a  partition  of  certain  parcels — Number  One,  for  ex 
ample.  And  Mr.  Gaston  will  render  me  the  greatest  service,  if  he 
can  arrange  matters  so  that  I  can  attain  my  object  without  con 
tention.  The  question  of  price  to  be  paid  is  entirely  secondary. 
The  main  point  is  to  get  sole  possession  of  such  parcels  as  I  may 
designate — Number  One,  for  illustration — by  any  legal  means, 
and  by  the  payment  of  any  sum,  just  or  exorbitant. 

"  Mr.  Gaston  will  now  perceive  the  necessity  for  the  secrecy 
that  has  hitherto  been  observed  in  the  initial  steps.  If  the  other 
parties  in  interest  should  discover  my  preference  for  special  por 
tions  of  the  inheritance,  it  is  highly  probable  that  they  would  in 
terpose  serious  obstacles  to  the  accomplishment  of  my  designs.  It 
is  not  necessary  to  explain  the  reasons  that  would  actuate  them ; 
nor  is  it  at  all  necessary  to  acquaint  them  with  my  purposes. 
Without  accurate  knowledge  of  the  law,  I  am  still  persuaded  that 
I  could  attain  my  object  by  legal  proceedings,  which  would,  how 
ever,  be  very  objectionable  and  very  distasteful  to  me ;  and  I  can 


MB.  SKILLETS  SYMPATHY.  159 

only  say,  in  conclusion,  that  I  rely  entirely  upon  Mr.  Gaston's  dis 
cretion  and  judgment,  and  confidently  expect  him  to  devise  a  plan 
whereby  the  partition  of  the  estate  can  be  amicably  arranged,  not 
only  in  the  way  that  I  desire,  but  also  in  such  a  manner  as  will  be 
perfectly  equitable,  or,  rather,  far  more  profitable  to  the  other 
heirs  than  to  me.  Only,  I  must  have  at  least  one  choice. 

"  Monday  night.  "  N.  N." 

"  This  is  a  stunner  !"  said  Darcy,  as  he  undressed  and  prepared 
himself  for  his  peaceful  couch.  "This  Miss  Norman  has  a  mind 
of  her  own !  She  talks  about  law-points,  as  if  they  were  the  ob 
stacles  to  be  overcome,  whereas  the  real  task  is  to  circumvent  that 
sharp  looking  fellow,  Mr.  Bragdon,  who  stared  so  insolently  at  me. 
One  thing  is  clear.  Helen  has  no  interest  under  that  old  will. 
Shall  I  tell  her  about  its  provisions  I  Ah !  here  is  a  nice  question  ! 
If  I  could  only  get  at  Brother  Tige  !" 

Darcy  would  not  have  slept  so  quietly  if  he  had  known  that 
Brother  Tige  was  at  that  moment  approaching  New  York  at  the  rate 
of  thirty  miles  to  the  hour,  rolling  from  side  to  side  in  a  sleeping 
car,  and  dreaming  about  him,  and  Helen,  with  occasional  dips  into 
the  private  history  of  Mr.  Kupert  Grey,  some  of  whose  later  ex 
ploits  Tige  had  investigated  while  he  waited  in  Cincinnati  for  the 
eastern  bound  train. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 
MR.  SKILLET'S  SYMPATHY. 

ME.  SKILLET  was  an  early  riser.  His  bachelor  household 
was  a  model  of  punctuality  and  order.  His  breakfast  was 
always  ready  at  seven  o'clock,  at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  and 
while  he  discussed  this  meal,  he  usually  gave  orders  for  his  din 
ner  at  six.  On  the  morning  succeeding  the  events  last  recorded, 
he  was  crossing  Fulton  Ferry  at  about  eight. 

Arriving  at  Jeryboblum  street,  he  found  Helen  in  the  parlour, 
still  wading  through  the  rhetorical  flourishes  in  the  pile  of  "  com 
positions  "  that  had  been  presented  by  her  pupils  on  the  previous 
day.  There  had  been  a  holiday  of  two  weeks,  between  sessions, 
and  Miss  Keith  always  improved  these  shining  hours,  by  giving 
the  young  ladies  some  abstruse  topic  to  write  upon,  requiring 


160  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

them  to  present  four  pages  each  at  the  re-opening  of  the  Institute. 
It  is  to  be  regretted  that  these  specimens  of  light  literature  never 
got  into  print;  not  so  much  on  account  of  the  substantial  loss  in 
curred  by  the  reading  public,  as  because  their  publication  would 
have  revealed  a  startling  similarity  in  logic  and  rhetoric,  to  the 
discourses  and  lectures  of  the  renowned  first  men  of  the  age. 
Those  of  the  girls  who  were  deeply  pious,  fell  into  the  same  strain 
as  that  adopted  by  the  Reverend  Dragger.  Those  who  were  not 
troubled  with  piety,  but  took  philosophy  as  a  substitute,  employed 
the  more  felicitous  expressions  of  the  other  first  man,  Mr.  Squiz- 
zein.  In  the  main,  and  viewing  the  matter  in  its  moral  aspect, 
there  was  no  material  difference  between  the  philosophy  and  the 
piety, — as  the  first  contradicted  all  established  laws  of  logic,  and 
the  second  scouted  all  popular  creeds.  Both  classes  were  com 
posed  in  the  gush  dialect,  which  had  this  advantage  :  The  mean 
ing  of  the  words  employed  was  transitive,  and  the  same  words 
and  sentences  would  serve  to  indicate  a  strictly  original  postulate 
in  social  economy,  (that  had  been  exploded  for  twenty  centuries), 
or  to  illustrate  a  novel  proposition  in  Theology,  which  had  been 
propounded  to  Eve  by  her  interlocutor  nearly  six  thousand  years 
ago.  This  peculiarity  of  the  gush  tongue  was  one  proof  of  the 
progress  of  the  age,  as  the  sense  of  the  passages  depended  en 
tirely  upon  the  tones  or  expression  of  countenance,  on  the  part  of 
the  reader.  A  solemn  air  indicated  theology;  an  air  of  suppress 
ed  wisdom  indicated  philosophy. 

Helen  would  have  been  overwhelmed,  if  it  had  not  been  for 
her  previous  training  in  Cincinnati,  where  Mrs.  Crowder  had  in 
doctrinated  her  in  the  philosophy  and  religion  of  Professor  Hang, 
who  also  dealt  exclusively  in  gush.  She  had  been  required  to 
read  "  Lies  for  To-morrow "  in  her  daily  instructions  to  Mrs. 
Crowder's  daughters,  and  she  had  only  the  grammatical  construc 
tion  of  the  sentences  to  bother  her,  as  the  sentiments  of  the  Es 
says,  being  in  gush,  made  no  impression  upon  her  mind. 

"  I  am  so  glad  to  see  you,  Mr.  Skillet,"  said  Helen,  "  I  have 
been  reading  these  compositions,  and  I  really  don't  know  what  I 
ought  to  do  about  them." 

"  Exactly  ! "  said  Mr.  Skillet,  "I  see !  Ya-as !  How  are  you 
to-day?" 

"  Quite  well,  sir.  And  I  can  never  tell  you  how  deep  my  debt 
of  gratitude  to  you " 

"Oh!  it's  no  consequence,"  said  Mr.  Skillet;  '-I'll  send  in  my 
bill.  Let  it  set,  please." 


ME.  SKILLETS  SYMPATHY.  161 

"  The  change  from  that  horrid  place,  to  this !  Oh  dear !  How 
could  I  live  as  long  as  I  did,  where  that  wretched  man  was !  Mrs. 
Bruce  is  so  kind,  and  her  daughters  are  charming !  And  I  heard 
a  real  de-light-ful  discourse  last  night  from  Doctor  Sturdy  :  almost 
equal  to  Kentucky  1" 

"  Well,"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  "  you  kicked  up  quite  a  considerable 
rumpus,  yesterday  !  The  whole  of  N'Yauk  was  in  an  uproar. 
There  was  Dassy — sot  up  all  night,  and  then  whaled  your  man  at 
Tilter's." 

"  My  man  at  Tilter's  f  said  Helen,  astonished. 

"  Ya-as  !  I  mean  that  slick  young  whelp,  Donis.  He  came 
down  town  and  made  some  brags  about  courtin'  you,  and  Dassy 
heard  him.  He  put  a  head  onto  him  in  about  two  mi  nits  !  I  seed 
the  chap  afterwards,  a  comin'  out  of  a  beer  cellar,  lookin'  quite 
seedy.  His  hat  was  stove  in,  and  all  the  tar  was  washed  outenhis 
mustash.  Bulty  for  Dassy  !  I  was  a  goin'  to  old  Tilter  to  enter 
a  complaint,  but  I  thought  after  I  seed  him — I  mean  Don  is — that 
I  could  let  him  set !  I  guess  the  young  cuss  won't  bother  any  other 
gal  this  week !" 

"  I  am  very  sorry,"  said  Helen,  piously  repressing  and  trampling 
upon  her  first  feeling  of  delight ;  "  I  hope  Mr.  Gaston  did  not  hurt 
him  seriously." 

"Oh,  it's  no  consequence!"  replied  Mr.  Skillet;  "when  I  see 
Tilter,  I'll  tell  him  to  swop  that  whelp  off  for  a  kitten,  and  then 
drown  the  kitten  to  keep  t'other  feller  from  swopping  back! 
But  what  am  I  to  tell  Dassy  f 

"  I  don't  understand,  sir." 

"  Why,  he  was  half  demented !  He  wanted  to  hire  the  police 
force  to  look  for  you !  He  kinder  feels  like  he  had  a  lien  on  you, 
since  you  come  on  the  same  train  with  him.  He  said  he  would 
give  OITC  of  his  arms  or  legs  to  know  you  were  safe  !  I  promised 
him  to  find  out  by  to-day,  and  now  I  crave  to  know  what  Fm  to 
tell  him  !" 

"  Suppose  he  does  not  ask  youf  said  Helen,  demurely. 

"  Oh !  he'll  ask  fast  enough.  I  shall  find  him  at  the  office  when 
I  go  back  waitiu'  for  me." 

"  If  he  asks,  you  may  tell  him  I  am  quite  safe  and  well.  You 
might  say  I  am  teaching  school." 

"And  shall  I  tell  him  where  the  school  is?"  asked  Mr.  Skillet, 
shutting  one  eye ;  "  he  might  want  to  put  in  some  compositions 
himself." 

11 


162  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT.  * 

"  I  don't  think  it  will  be  necessary,"  answered  Helen,  blushing 
a  little ;  u  don't  you  think  it  will  be  better  to  make  no  excep 
tions  ?" 

"  It's  no  consequence,"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  somewhat  disappointed  j 
"  but  I  may  tell  him  I  know  where  you  are,  and  have  seen  you  ! 
It  will  be  quite  like  a  cold  bath  to  the  boy,  too !  And  now  I  must 
go.  What  is  the  matter  with  the  compositions?" 

"  Oh !  I  had  forgotten.  Miss  Keith  gave  the  young  ladies  a  topic 
to  write  upon  during  the  vacation.  It  is  "  The  Cognition  of  the 
Inner  Life,"  and  I  don't  know  what  she  meant,  and  am  afraid  none 
of  the  young  ladies  knew  either.  I  have  read  them  all,  and  I 
cannot  find  one  word  of  sense  in  any  !  I  did  not  know  such — 
stuff — I  was  going  to  say,  could  be  written.  May  I  read  one  to 
to  you  ?  " 

Mr.  Skillet  started  to  his  feet  and  seized  his  hat. 

"  Jerusalem !"  he  ejaculated  ;  "five  minits  of  nine.  I  must  git 
across.  That  boy  will  hang  himself  on  a  hat  peg  in  the  back 
office.  Good  mornin',  Miss  Harding." 

"  That  was  a  narrow  escape !"  he  muttered,  as  he  raced  down  to 
the  ferry ;  "  if  I  had  stayed  there  another  minit,  she'd  a  read  that 
pile  of  she-literatooi  to  me.  What  in  the  dickins  can  I  tell  Dassy? 
He'll  put  me  through  as  soon  as  I  tell  him  I  know  where  she  is. 
She  is  pooty  and  slick  as  molasses  candy,  by  Gemini !  But  she 
don't  care  no  more  for  Dassy  than  for  old  Camp !  Wimmen  is 
mighty  tickelish  securities  to  invest  in,  anyhow !  You  can  never 
tell  how  much  margin  to  ask.  Dassy  may  as  well  hang  up  his 
fiddle !" 

As  he  predicted,  Mr.  Skillet  found  Darcy  at  the  office.  The 
young  gentleman  was  poring  over  a  complicated  account,  and  was 
apparently  far  more  interested  in  the  figures  which  related  to 
investments  in  sundry  stocks  than  to  any  investments  in  the 
securities  that  Mr.  Skillet  had  just  apostrophized.  The  old 
gentleman  slipped  into  the  back  office,  and  busied  himself  with 
the  morning  letters,  dreading  the  interview  that  he  was  sure  was 
impending. 

In  due  time,  Darcy  came  in  for  the  letters.  Mr.  Skillet  had 
made  pencil  memoranda  upon  them,  which  he  explained  volubly. 

"  This  cheque  is  from  Scoop,"  he  said,  "  and  you  must  write 
polite  to  him.  He  wants  gold  for  sterling,  and  not  for  specula 
tion.  Tell  Camp  to  charge  him  a  naith  commission.  That's  regu 
lar,  anyway,  and  he  won't  think  he's  cheated  if  we  charge  full 


MR.  SKILLET'S  SYMPATHY.  163 

commission.  He  has  not  sent  quite  enough  for  the  ten  thousand, 
but  it's  no  consequence.  Buy  it  for  him  regular,  as  soon  as  the 
Board  opens,  and  send  him  statements.  This  is  Brittle's  letter. 
He  says,  sell  out  and  close  his  account.  All  right !  Charge  him 
a  sixteenth  both  ways.  Camp  will  tell  you  his  balance.  I  think 
we  are  carrying  Fifty  for  him." 

"  Can't  we  take  ten  of  it  for  Mr.  Scoop  ?"  said  Darcy. 

"  No !  Let  every  tub  set  on  its  own  bottom.  My  rule  has 
always  been  to  keep  each  transaction  separate.  Don't  mix  things. 
If  you  once  learn  to  stick  to  your  commissions,  through  thick  and 
thin,  you'll  come  out  all  right.  That's  the  first  principle.  The 
other  is :  keep  your  margins  up.  It's  no  consequence  who  your 
customer  is.  If  it's  your  father  or  your  mother-in-law,  always  git 
your  margin.  If  you  want  to  turn  plaguey  fool  and  squander 
your  earuin's,  you  can  always  give  them  to  a  hospital !  But  don't 
give  'etn  away  while  you  are  playing  at  business.  Hadn't  you 
better  git  out  now,  and  go  round  to  the  gold  room  ?  I'd  like  to 
git  Scoop's  ten  at  the  opening." 

"  Fifteen  minutes  of  ten,  sir,"  said  Darcy ;  "  I  wanted  to  ask 
you  about * 

"  All  right !"  said  Mr.  Skillet ;  "  when  you  come  back." 

"  Only  one  word,  sir " 

"  You  can't  say  nauthin'  in  one  word !"  objected  Mr.  Skillet, 
testily.  "  Oh  !  about  the  gal  I  Wa-al,  she  is  all  right,  safe  and 
sound  !" 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  Darcy  indifferently ;  "  thank  you,  sir.  But 
I  desired  to  ask  you  what  I  ought  to  do  if  I  knew  that  a  man  was 
following  me  and  watching  all  my  movements." 

"  Following  you  T 

"  Yes,  sir.  There  is  a  great  red  whiskered  rascal  that  I  have 
found  two  or  three  times  dogging  my  footsteps.  There  is  no 
doubt  about  it." 

"  Dogging  your  footsteps  !  Wa-al !  I've  got  an  English  mas 
tiff  to  my  heouse.  I'll  lend  him  to  you,  and  then  you  can  dog  his 
footsteps,  and  mebbe  a  small  slice  of  one  of  his  legs.  You'd  better 
come  round  to-night  and  git  a  little  acquainted  with  l  Towzer.' 
He  is  not  much  friendly  at  first,  but  you  can  git  him  to  know  you. 
Have  you  spoke  to  the  man  F 

"  No,  sir." 

"  Why  not  ?w 

"  Because  I — I  thought  I  might  get  into  a  quarrel.    These  New 


164  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

York  policemen  are  so  thick  that  one  can't  knock  a  fellow  down 
without  being  caught." 

"  It  seems  to  me,"  quoth  Mr.  Skillet,  u  that  you  knocked  that 
Donis  cuss  around  quite  considerable,  yesterday,  without  gitten 
caught !" 

"  Yes,  sir ;  but  that  was  in  Pearl  street,  and  we  were  behind 
the  cotton  bales.  Ah  !  if  I  could  only  get  the  other  fellow  there !" 

"  Wa-al !    S'pose  you  did — what  then  P 

"  Then  I  could — speak  to  him,  sir.  You  don't  know  how  annoy 
ing  it  is  to  be  followed  and  watched.  Three  minutes  of  ten — I'm 
off',  sir." 

"Wa-al!"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  solus,  "this  bangs  the  witches.  I 
can't  understand  these  young  whelps  any  more  than  the  wimmen. 
He  cares  no  more  for  Miss  Harding  than  she  does  for  him.  I 
s'pose  it's  all  right.  Here  I  sot,  getting  ready  to  bust  into  tears 
of  sympathy,  and  he  just  nods  his  head  and  goes  about  his  busi 
ness.  I  can't  understand  it !  Yesterday  he  was  all  afire,  and 
ready  to  engage  the  mayor  and  aldermen  in  a  hunt  for  my  little 
school-marm.  To-day,  he  only  wants  to  go  for  some  red  whiskered 
chap  and  put  a  head  onto  him.  It's  a  clean  waste  of  raw  material 
to  be  gettiu'  up  sympathy,  and  I'll  quit  that  line  of  business. 
Hello  !  What  is  it,  Jim  ?" 

The  office  Mercury  presented  a  ne'at  little  note,  written  on 
mourning  paper. 

"Miss  Norman  presents  her  compliments  to  Mr.  Skillet,  and 
will  thank  him  to  call  some  time  this  morning,  at  the  Fifth  Avenue 
Hotel." 

"  Fifth  Avenoo  Hotel !"  said  Mr.  Skillet.  "  Some  fine  mornin' 
I'll  get  a  note  from  Eome  or  Jerusalem,  asking  me  to  step  across 
and  have  a  talk.  Fifth  Avenoo ;  two  miles,  good.  But  it's  no  con 
sequence.  I'll  have  to  go.  What  the  dickens  is  she  doin'  at  the 
Fifth  Avenoo  Hotel  F 


CHAPTEE    XXXIV. 
Miss  ABBY'S  VISIT. 

mysterious  invitation  which  Miss  Abby  received  from  the 
-1-  venerable  medium,  possessed  her  mind  the  whole  succeed 
ing  day.  She  felt  that  it  was  private  and  confidential,  though 
she  did  not  precisely  understand  whether  the  message  was  from 


MISS  ABBTS  VISIT.  165 

the  spirit  world,  or  from  the  medium  on  his  own  account.  During 
the  day,  which  was  ostensibly  occupied  in  preparation  for  the 
coming  voyage,  she  studiously  avoided  conversation  with  Nina, 
who,  in  turn,  was  preoccupied  and  silent.  The  sober  light  of  day 
dispelled  some  of  the  mists  of  the  previous  night,  and  the  realities 
of  living  interests  around  her  displaced  the  unnatural  excitement 
that  attended  the  seance.  Still,  Nina  was  not  able  to  shake  off 
the  influence  entirely,  especially  as  the  mysterious  injunctions 
she  had  apparently  received,  chimed  with  tolerable  accuracy 
with  her  previous  purposes.  She  finally  decided  to  send  for  Mr. 
Skillet,  and  resolved  to  be  guided  by  his  advice,  in  the  matter 
that  most  specially  interested  her. 

It  was  about  noon,  when  Nina  announced  to  Miss  Abby  that 
she  expected  Mr.  Skillet,  who  would  probably  accept  an  invita 
tion  to  lunch  with  them. 

"  Then  I  will  go  to  Brooklyn  after  lunch,"  said  Miss  Abby,  "  as 
you  will  want  to  talk  business;  and  I  have  to  arrange  finally  for 
the  conduct  of  the  Institute  during  my  absence.  Mr.  Skillet 
assures  me  that  the  young  lady  he  recommended  is  eminently 
qualified,  but  I  should  like  to  see  her  myself." 

When  Mr.  Skillet  arrived,  Miss  Keith  metaphorically  collared 
him  on  the  threshold. 

"  Excuse  me  a  moment,  Nina,"  said  she;  "  but  I  will  not  have 
another  favourable  opportunity  to  consult  Mr.  Skillet  about  the 
Institute.  What  is  the  lady's  name  ?" 

"Oh!    Ah!    You  mean  the  school-marm ?    Miss  Harding." 

"  Miss  Harding.  Yes.  Do  you  happen  to  know  anything  of 
her  inner  life  *?  I  mean  her  spiritual  perceptions  ?" 

"  Exactly  !"  said  Mr.  Skillet.  "  I  don't  think  she  has  any.  She 
goes  to  hear  Dr.  Sturdy  preach,  over  to  Brooklyn.  I  recom 
mended  Dragger,  but " 

"  She  did  not  accept  your  advice  F 

"  Wa-al,  it  warn't  exactly  advice.  I  only  told  her  it  was  a  good 
place  to  hear  first-class  hifalootiu.  Great  Caesar !  Nobody  can 
come  up  to  Dragger  in  hifalootin.  Miss  Harding  had  a  lot  of 
writing  about  the  '  inner  life,'  which  the  scholars  brought  in  yes 
terday." 

"Yes,"  said  Miss  Abby,  complacently;  "I  gave  them  that 
topic  at  the  end  of  last  session." 

"  Wa-al,  that's  jest  in  Dragger's  line,  you  know." 

Miss  Abby  winced.    The  model  essay  upon  the  topic  was  one 


166  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

of  the  Keverend  Dragger's  sermons.    She  thought  Mr.  Skillet  a 
disagreeable  old  heretic. 

"  Dragger  preached  last  Sunday,"  continued  Mr.  Skillet,  "  about 
the  imaginations  of  men's  hearts,  and  he  proved  that  all  religion 
consisted  in  the  imagination.  The  Herald  says  it  was  a  masterly 
effort." 

"  Yes,"  answered  Miss  Keith  ;  "  I  heard  him.  But  Miss  Hard 
ing  went  to  Dr.  Sturdy's,  because  the  Bruces  go  there.  You  said 
she  lived  at  Mr.  Bruce's  ?" 

"  I  wanted  she  should  go  to  your  old  boardin'  house,"  said  Mr. 
Skillet,  "  but  Mrs.  Bruce  kind  o'  took  to  her." 

"It  would  have  been  more  judicious  to  have  gone  to  Mrs. 
Smith's,"  observed  Miss  Abby.  "Mrs.  Bruce  always  pays  her 
bills,  and  Mrs.  Smith  don't.  However,  you  have  arranged  it  all, 
and  I  shall  not  object.  I  have  not  met  Miss  Harding,  though, 
and  I  am  going  over  to  Brooklyn  to-day  to  ascertain  the  extent  of 
her  scholastic  attainments." 

"  Do  as  you  please,"  replied  Mr.  Skillet ;  "  but  I  advise  you  to 
let  her  set!  If  you  put  her  through  Dragger,  she  won't  go  up 
head.  But  as  for  regular  schooliu',  I  guess  she  can  stand.  But 
if  she  don't  seem  to  suit,  you  can  git  another,  and  I'll  take  her  for 
governess  to  my  nieces.  Miss  Norman,  what  are  your  orders?" 

"First,  to  take  off  your  overcoat,  and  join  us  at  lunch,"  replied 
Nina,"  and  afterwards  to  advise  me  about  a  personal  matter. 
Miss  Abby  is  going  to  Brooklyn,  presently.  You  had  better  take 
the  carriage,  Miss  Abby." 

"  I  shall  not  return  until  late,  probably,"  said  Miss  Keith. 

"  Then  it  is  more  important  to  have  the  carriage.  We  are 
ready,  Mr.  Skillet." 

When  Mr.  Skillet  left  the  hotel,  early  in  the  afternoon,  he  was 
in  a  very  confused  mental  state.  Miss  Norman  had,  to  use  his 
own  words,  knocked  the  spots  out  of  him. 

"  It's  no  consequence !"  he  cogitated ;  "  but  she  is  dead  set  in 
her  intentions.  It  is  the  quarest  business  I  ever  mixed  in.  But 
she  is  dead  set !  She  wouldn't  listen  to  any  objections.  And  I 
happen  to  know  that  Bragdon  is  jest  as  dead  set  on  the  same 
property.  I  can't  see  my  way  out,  and  I  mustn't  ask  Dassy.  It 
won't  do  for  him  to  be  mixed." 

Miss  Keith  had  sundry  things  to  do  in  Brooklyn.  She  called 
at  the  Institute,  introduced  herself  to  Helen,  and  then  sat  by, 
observant,  while  she  heard  recitations.  It  was  history  day,  and 


MISS  ABBTS  VISIT.  167 

the  classes  were  not  as  well  prepared  as  was  desirable,  being  the 
second  day  of  the  session.  But  the  new  teacher  was  patient  and 
sympathizing,  and  the  pupils  got  through  the  trial  without  serious 
failures.  Miss  Harding  complimented  them  upon  their  previous 
training,  very  justly,  for  Miss  Keith  was  a  highly  accomplished 
instructress.  And  the  latter  was  duly  impressed  with  the  Ken 
tucky  girl's  readiness,  in  helping  the  stumbling  pupils  through  or 
over  the  hard  places.  Helen  did  not  know  she  was  being  inves 
tigated,  and  therefore  felt  no  trepidation,  and  made  no  failures. 
Miss  Abby  left  the  Institute  at  five  o'clock  highly  pleased  with 
her  successor.  Somehow  she  did  not  get  her  own  consent  to  dis 
cuss  the  relative  merits  of  the  two  schools  of  theology  represented 
by  Dragger  and  Sturdy.  There  was  a  certain  air  about  Helen 
that  restrained  her.  The  carriage  had  been  dismissed,  with  in 
structions  to  the  coachman  to  present  himself  at  Doctor  Lamis's 
at  eight  o'clock. 

Miss  Abby  dined  with  Mrs.  Smith.  It  was  a  farewell  visit,  as 
she  would  sail  the  next  week.  Mrs.  Smith,  by  an  effort  of  will 
that  made  her  feel  quite  limp  afterwards,  took  twenty  dollars  out 
of  her  pocket-book,  and  paid  it  to  Miss  Keith  "  on  account."  She 
had  two  girls  at  the  Institute. 

It  was  seven  o'clock  when  Miss  Keith  arrived  at  the  spiritual 
mansion.  She  was  shown  into  the  side  room,  now  brilliantly 
lighted,  and  was  courteously  received  by  the  venerable  medium 
himself. 

"  Did  you  come  alone  f  he  asked,  standing  behind  her  chair, 
which  he  had  wheeled  up  to  the  grate. 

"  Yes  5  you  said  come  aloue." 

"  True ;  there  are  so  many  scoffers  in  the  world  that  I  always 
feel  doubtful.  Are  you  convinced  of  the  reality  of  spiritual  mani 
festations  ?" 

"  Undoubtedly,"  answered  Miss  Abby. 

"  Well,  did  you  think  all  the  responses  last  night  were  from  the 
spirit  world  f 

"  Yes ;  I  haffno  reason  to  doubt  it." 

"  Ah  !  you  were  mistaken  !  There  is  such  a  thing  in  psycholog 
ical  science  as  the  domination  of  living  souls,  by  mere  force  of 
will.  I  was  under  such  domination  last  night.  One  of  the  re 
sponses  was  from  a  living  man  !  Do  not  move !  Wait  while  you 
count  fifty,  and  he  will  present  himself." 

Miss  Keith  was  strong  minded.    But  while  she  counted  fifty 


168  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

silently,  she  thought  she  could  hear  her  own  heart  beat.  A  step 
on  the  soft  carpet,  barely  audible,  and  Eupert  Grey  stood  before 
her,  with  the  same  bold  eyes,  the  same  dressy  exterior,  the  same 
smooth  moustache,  with  the  even  white  teeth  glistening  under  it. 
She  glanced  around  the  room.  The  medium  had  vanished,  leaving 
no  trace  behind. 

"  I  am  charmed  to  see  you,  Miss  Keith,"  said  Rupert,  holding 
out  his -white  hand.  "  Pray  do  not  be  shocked  by  my  sudden  ap 
pearance  !  I  am  quite  full  of  vital  energy,  I  assure  you." 

"  I  thought  you  were  killed !"  faltered  Miss  Abby.  "  The  Herald, 
to-day,  said  no  traces  of  your  body  could  be  found !" 

"  Precisely,"  replied  Rupert,  with  easy  indifference  ;  "  I  do  not 
intend  it  to  be  found  at  present — except  by  my  friends.  I  hope  I 
may  count  Miss  Keith  among  them  !" 

"  I  am  entirely  bewildered !"  said  Miss  Abby.  "  Does  Nina 
know  ?" 

u  I  trust  not,  answered  Rupert ;  "  my  chief  motive  for  remain 
ing  dead  is  to  mislead  Nina.  And  next  to  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
you  again,  the  most  agreeable  part  of  the  present  interview  will 
be  the  formation  of  an  alliance  between  us." 

"  An  alliance  against  Nina !"  said  Miss  Keith.  "  I  cannot  take 
part  in  any  scheme  against  her." 

"  Certainly  not !"  replied  Eupert,  drawing  a  chair  up  and  seat 
ing  himself  beside  her.  "  I  purpose  no  harm  to  Nina.  On  the  con 
trary,  I  hope  to  aid  her  in  some  pet  schemes  of  hers ;  but,  to  suc 
ceed,  she  must  remain  ignorant  of  my  existence,  while  you  must 
enlighten  me  upon  two  or  three  points.  First :  what  business  has 
Mr.  Gaston  in  charge  for  her  !" 

"  I  don't  know,"  said  Miss  Abby,  shortly. 

"Positively?"  said  Grey,  eyeing  her  keenly. 

"  Positively !  He  has  seen  her  several  times,  but  I  have  no  idea 
of  the  nature  of  their  conferences.  Something  relating  to  the 
estate,  I  presume,  but  this  is  mere  surmise.  He  was  sent  at  first 
by  Mr.  Skillet." 

"  And  the  lady  ?  Mr.  Gaston  has  taken  a  lady  to  Nina's  house, 
certainly.  Where  is  she,  And  who  is  she  ?" 

"  No  lady  ever  came  with  Mr.  Gaston.  Nina  has  no  house ;  she 
is  at  the  Fifth  Avenue  Hotel.  We  are  going  to  Europe  by  the 
1  China '  next  week."  • 

"  We  ?" 

"  Yes  ;  Nina  and  I." 


NINA'S  DILEMMA.  169 

"  And  uo  one  else  !" 

"  No  one  else,  excepting  Nina's  maid." 

Mr.  Grey  pushed  back  his  chair,  muttering  something  very  like 
an  oath.  He  was  so  positively  assured  that  Nina  was  harbouring 
Helen  that  he  found  himself  repeating  the  fact  to  his  own  mind, 
while  he  reflected  upon  Miss  Abby's  denial.  He  strode  about  the 
room,  pulling  his  black  moustache,  and  labouring  to  devise  a  new 
plan.  His  effort  with  Miss  Keith  was  an  evident  failure.  At  last 
he  pushed  his  chair  nearer  the  grate,  and  once  more  sat  down 
beside  her. 

"  Part  of  my  plan,"  he  said — "indeed,  the  culmination  of  it — 
related  to  you  !  After  I  accomplish  my  purpose,  which  is  merely 
the  enforcement  of  a  legal  claim  against  the  Norman  estate,  I  in 
tend  to  win  your  confidence  and  your  regard.  I  trust  you  to 
remain  silent  about  me  until  the  time  arrives  for  me  to  see  Nina 
and  the  Bragdons.  There  is  your  carriage,  I  presume ;  it  has 
stopped  at  the  door."  He  took  her  hand,  pressed  it  gently, 
and  before  she  knew  it,  he  had  leaned  forward  and  kissed  her. 
She  was  rather  shocked,  but,  as  they  were  alone,  she  speedily  re 
covered  her  composure. 

"  If  I  take  him,"  she  murmured,  when  the  carriage  arrived  at 
the  hotel,  "  I'll  stop  his  smoke !  And  I  don't  see  as  I  have  to  tell 
Nina  anything  about  him  at  present." 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

NINA'S  DILEMMA. 

more  Miss  Keith  thought  about  her  interview  with  Eu- 
-L  pert  the  more  dissatisfied  she  felt.  And  while  she  was  in  a 
little  flutter  of  pleasant  excitement  whenever  she  thought  of  his 
concluding  remarks,  she  still  resented  the  cool  impudence  of  his 
"  approaches."  He  seemed  to  take  for  granted  that  he  had  only 
his  own  consent  to  gain.  This  is  a  very  comfortable  frame  of  mind 
at  the  beginning  of  a  courtship,  but  it  is  not  lasting  if  the  femi 
nine  part  of  the  courting  is  thoroughly  done.  The  natural  law, 
which  requires  a  certain  amount  of  wooing  from  the  dominant 
power,  is  inexorable.  If  Mr.  Grey,  who  could  simulate  all  tlie 
virtues,  had  manifested  some  timidity,  or  distrust  of  his  own 


170  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

fascinations,  he  would  have  accomplished  more.  But  the  unfor 
tunate  conceit,  that  ruins  so  many  of  the  stronger  sex,  could  not 
be  hidden,  and  it  happened  to  spoil  all  his  plans  in  this  instance. 

u  Nina,"  said  Miss  Abby,  "  I  suppose  you  made  an  attempt  to 
confer  with  the  spirit  of  Mr.  Grey,  last  night  F 

"  Yes,"  replied  Nina,  starting.  "  I  was  thinking  of  him  this 
minute." 

"  What  were  you  thinking,  dear  ?" 

"  It  seems  a  shocking  thing  to  say,  Miss  Abby,"  replied  Nina, 
"  but  I  was  asking  myself  if  it  was  probable  that  dead  people  ever 
told  lies.  What  is  the  doctrine  of  the  Spiritualists  upon  that 
point  ?" 

"  Spirits,"  said  Miss  Abby,  "  that  is,  real  spirits,  always  tell  the 
truth.  The  revelations  from  the  spirit  spheres  would  be  infallible 
if  we  could  always  have  a  reliable  medium.  I  suppose  all  the 
cases  of  false  teaching  or  false  revelation  may  be  attributed  to 
the  fault  or  iucompetency  of  the  medium.  What  is  it  that  you 
doubt!" 

"  I  hardly  know,"  answered  Nina,  wearily ;  "  I  am  so  tired  of 
distrust !  And  I  had  so  firmly  decided  that  I  had  found  one  man 
of  unswerving  integrity.  But  I  have  been  all  day  asking  myself 
if  Mr.  Gaston  could  be  misled  by  Eupert  ?" 

Miss  Keith  devoured  Nina  with  her  eyes. 

"  You  know,  Miss  Abby,"  she  continued,  "  that  I  am  the 
seventh  child  of  my  father,  who  was  the  seventh  of  his.  I  cannot 
shake  off  the  superstition  that  this  gives  me  peculiar  insight  into 
the  thoughts  and  motives  of  people.  And  I  have  always  felt, 
when  conversing  with  Mr.  Gaston,  that  he  was  dealing  with  per 
fect  candour.  But  there  was  some  concealment  of  his  thoughts,  I 
remember,  when  I  asked  him  about  Rupert.  Can  it  be  possible 
that  these  two  have  formed  a  compact  to  deceive  me  '?" 

Miss  Keith  reflected,  liupert  was  a  nice  man,  and  wore  such 
elegant  gloves!  But  he  was  impecunious  at  present,  and  Nina 
was  rich.  And,  then,  that  septenary  arrangement  made  her  shiver 
in  spite  of  her  good  sense.  Moreover,  she  was  passably  honest, 
and  candour  was  her  favourite  weakness. 

"  Nina,"  she  said,  oracularly,  "  I  don't  like  Mr.  Gaston.  He  is 
a  rebel,  and  he  is  as  full  of  conceit  as  he  can  be.  But  he  don't 
tell  lies.  I  am  sure  of  that.  You  might  be  deceived,  but  no  man 
could  deceive  me." 

"  Conceit  ?"  said  Nina.    u  That  sounds  like  a  harsh  judgment, 


NINA1 8  DILEMMA.  Itl 

Miss  Abby.  I  Lave  seen  no  evidence  of  it.  But  it  was  a  strange 
coincidence  that  he  should  have  been  on  the  train  with  Eupert, 
and  yet  not  know  him " 

"  But  Mr.  Grey  knows  him,7'  replied  Miss  Keith. 

"  Knows  him  ?    You  mean  he  knew  him." 

u  No,  I  don't.  I  mean  to  say  Mr.  Grey  knows  him,  and  knows 
ho  has  been  visiting  you." 

"  Oh !"  said  Nina,  "  I  understand.  You  refer  to  Eupert's  spir 
itual  state.  I  was  speaking  of  Mr.  Gaston's  knowledge.  He  said 
he  met  Eupert  on  the  train,  but  did  not  even  know  his  name 
until  after  his  arrival  in  New  York.  The  papers  described  the 
fatal  accident,  and  announced  that  Mr.  Eupert  Grey  was  the 
victim." 

"  I  don't  refer  to  the  spiritual  state,"  said  Miss  Abby,  posi 
tively;  "I  don't  think  Mr.  Grey  has  any  spiritual  state.  I  don't 
believe  there  was  any  fatal  accident.  I  believe  Mr.  Grey  is  alive, 
and  as  well  as  you  are.  And  I  think  he  has  some  designs  against 
your  estate,  and  does  not  show  himself,  because  he  expects  to 
succeed  better  by  employing  other  agencies.  There !  I  have 
cleared  my  conscience  now,  and  you  can  draw  your  own  con 
clusions." 

Nina  regarded  Miss  Abby  with  wondering  eyes.  She  spoke 
positive^,  snapping  out  her  sentences  with  emphatic  precision ; 
and  Nina  began  to  recall  her  first  interview  with  Darcy,  and  tried 
to  remember  his  exact  words. 

"  Miss  Abby,"  she  said,  after  a  brief  silence,  "  you  have  said 
too  little  or  too  much.  Do  you  think  Mr.  Gaston  is  aware  of 
Eupert's  existence,  if  he  is  indeed  alive  ?" 

"  I  don't  know,"  replied  Miss  Keith. 

"  But  you  have  just  said  that  Eupert  knows  him." 

"  Yes.  I  cannot  say  whether  Mr.  Gaston  knows  Mr.  Grey,  or 
not.  You  ought  to  be  able  to  use  that  peculiar  insight  of  yours, 
and  decide  that  point  for  yourself." 

"  But,  Miss  Abby,"  persisted  Nina,  "  you  were  present  last 
night,  and  heard  the  responses " 

"  You  did  not  call  Mr.  Grey  by  name,"  said  Miss  Abby ;  "  I 
am  not  at  all  sure — indeed,  I  am  quite  sure  Mr.  Grey's  disem 
bodied  spirit  did  not  answer  you.  There  !" 

"  And  the  other  F  said  Nina,  tremulously ;  "  if  I  were  sure  the 
whole  thing  was  a  deception!  But  it  would  make  no  difference. 
My  course  is  perfectly  plain.  Miss  Abby,  was  the  whole  affair  a 
sham  f 


172  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

\ 

"  I  don't  know  !"  snapped  Miss  Abby.  "  The  medium  you  had 
was  a  sham,  I  really  believe." 

"  Then  1"  said  Nina,  starting  to  her  feet,  "  then  it  was  Eupert 
Grey !  Nobody  else  could  know  how  to  answer.  Ah  !  I  see  now. 
But  how  did  it  happen  that  he  was  there  ?  Oh  !  dear.  Shall  I 
never  get  out  of  these  toils  ?  If  I  live  another  day  1  will  terminate 
these  doubts.  And  if  Mr.  Gastou  has  deceived  me  I  will  never 
trust  mortal  man  again  !" 

Miss  Abby  cogitated.  Darcy  had  offended  her  mortally,  more 
by  his  disdainful  manner  than  by  his  words.  Her  confidence  in 
the  native  intelligence  of  the  black  race,  founded  upon  the  rhap 
sodies  of  Squizzem  and  Dragger,  had  been  rudely  shaken  by 
Darcy's  cold  assertion  of  its  essential  inferiority,  and  his  simple 
analysis  of  some  of  the  gush  lingo  had  displeased  her  also.  But 
there  was  a  streak  of  honesty  in  her  character  that  perpetually 
asserted  itself,  and  she  could  not  even  remain  silent  and  allow 
Nina  to  suppose  she  shared  her  doubts. 

"  I  am  sure  I  don't  know  what  is  the  extent  of  your  confidence," 
she  said,  at  last ;  "  but  I  have  no  reason  to  think  Mr.  Gaston 
insincere.  Indeed,  I  think  he  is  entirely  truthful  and  ingenuous. 
He  looks  like  a  man  who  says  just  what  he  thinks.  But  I  do 
think  he  is  a  very  dangerous  man  !  And  I  am  not  willing  for  you 
to  repose  unlimited  confidence  in  him." 

Nina  crossed  the  room  and  kissed  her. 

"  Now,  Nina,"  said  Miss  Abby,  tossing  her  head  petulantly,  "  I 
don't  wish  you  to  misunderstand  me.  These  Kentucky  people  are 
perfectly  hateful." 

"  Why,  you  never  saw  any  Kentucky  people,  excepting  Mr. 
Gaston." 

"  Yes,  I  have !"  replied  Miss  Keith ;  "  that  teacher  Mr.  Skillet 
found  is  from  Kentucky.  She  is  thoroughly  educated,  no  doubt, 
and  I  leave  the  Institute  in  her  hands  without  the  slightest  appre 
hension.  But ' 

"  But  what  r 

"  But  she  has  that  same  abominable  air  of  self-satisfaction.  I 
was  positively  afraid  to  ask  her  a  dozen  questions,  all  of  which  I 
had  arranged  in  my  mind what  is  it  ?" 

A  servant  had  brought  in  a  couple  of  cards. 

"Mr.  Timothy  Skillet,"  said  Nina,  reading  the  cards,  "and 
Henry  Gaston,  Esq.  Bequest  the  gentlemen  to  walk  in." 

Mr.  Skillet  was  in  a  high  state  of  excitement.   His  companion  was 


NINA'S  DILEMMA.  173 

a  large,  well-formed  man  in  the  prime  of  life,  sedate  in  demeanour, 
with  honest  eyes  that  roved  around  the  spacious  apartment,  even 
while  he  made  his  polite  salutations. 

"  I  hope  you  will  pardon  this  unseasonable  intrusion,"  he  said ; 
"  but  Mr.  Skillet  told  me  I  should  find  my  brother  here.  I  have 
just  arrived  and  cannot  sleep  until  I  see  him." 

"  Mr.  Darcy  Gaston  P  said  Nina. 

"  Yes,  Madam." 

"  He  has  not  been  here  to-day." 

Tige  was  discomfited.  He  had  just  told  his  wife  that  she  should 
see  the  boy  in  five  minutes.  Nina  noticed  his  disappointment. 

"  He  is  quite  well,"  she  continued,  kindly  ;  "  though  Mr.  Skil 
let  can  give  you  more  recent  intelligence  about  him." 

"  It's  no  consequence,"  said  Mr.  Skillet ;  "  but  I  was  sure  he  was 
here.  He  left  the  office  at  five.  He  was  perfectly  well,  except  a 
kind  o'  sneezin'.  Caught  cold,  I  guess.  Let's  go  to  Camp's,  Mr. 
Gaston." 

Tige  followed  him  to  the  door  and  then  turned  back  and  stood 
a  moment  before  Nina,  reading  her  countenance  with  sober 
anxiety. 

"  I  am  afraid  I  transgress,"  he  said,  with  a  deprecating  gesture ; 
"  but  my  poor  wife  is  devoured  with  anxiety — I  don't  know  why. 
Mr.  Skillet  has  assured  her  that  Darcy  is  safe  and  well,  but  she 
refuses  to  believe  him. .  She  has  no  one  but  Darcy  in  the  world  ; 
and  after  two  clays  of  tiresome  travel  she  insists  upon  finding  him 
to-night.  And  I  thought  if  I  might  bring  her  to  you — only  for  a 
moment — and  let  you  tell  her  that  he  was  well." 

"  I  will  go  to  her,"  said  Nina,  promptly. 

"  Nay.  Let  me  bring  her  to  you.  She  is  in  the  parlour,  close  at 
hand.  How  kind  you  are.  Darcy's  letters  about  you  have  seemed 
to  me  extravagant  until  now." 

"  Bring  Mrs.  Gaston,"  replied  Nina,  a  rosy  hue  overspreading 
her  forehead  and  cheeks.  "  We  will  try  to  entertain  her  while 
you  are  gone." 

"  And  you  jest  stay,  too,  Mr.  Gaston,"  said  Mr.  Skillet.  "  I  will 
go  to  Camp's  and  bring  Dassy.  No  earthly  use  for  you  to  go.  If 
he  is  not  there  I'll  find  out  where  he  is,  and  come  back  for  you. 
He  was  as  lively  as  a  cricket  only  four  hours  ago.  Anyhow,  the 
whelp  is  big  enough  to  take  care  of  himself.  And  Miss  Norman 
can  give  you  the  information  you  want  about  t'other  one,  too." 
And  Mr.  Skillet  bustled  out  without  waiting  for  a  reply. 


174  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

Tige  brought  his  wife,  who  was  courteously  received  by  Nina. 
It  only  requires  fifteen  seconds  for  two  truthful  women  to  become 
intimate.  Nell  was  drinking  in  the  refreshing  streams  of  informa 
tion  that  Nina  was  able  to  supply,  touching  Darcy's  appearance, 
seasoned  with  bits  of  conversation  of  no  importance,  but  invalu 
able  to  Nell,  who  could  recognize  "  her  boy"  in  phrases  and  senti 
ments  that  Nina  remembered. 

Mr.  Gaston,  like  a  true  gentleman,  took  a  seat  near  Miss  Keith, 
who  had  been  rather  overlooked  in  the  hurried  introduction  and 
interview.  He  got  a  gallon  of  gush  in  five  minutes.  But  he  had 
heard  a  hundred  addresses  to  gentlemen  of  the  jury,  in  cases 
where  an  appeal  to  the  tender  sensibilities  of  husbands  and 
fathers  was  the  only  leg  the  orator  had  to  stand  upon.  So  he 
took  the  gush  without  winking,  and  Miss  Abby  began  to  think 
Kentucky  was  a  good  sort  of  a  place,  after  all.  Tige  was  a  born 
courtier. 


CHAPTER   XXXVI. 
THE  OUTLET. 

THE  swift  interchange  of  question  and  answer,  all  relating  to 
Mr.  Darcy  Gaston,  his  looks,  his  habits  and  his  purposes, 
occupied  the  attention  of  the  two  ladies,  while  Tige  and  Miss 
Abby  vapourized  gush  in  the  opposite  corner.  Mrs.  Gaston  had 
been  troubled  by  dreams  and  presentiments,  and  she  found  a  ready 
listener  in  Miss  Norman,  who  was  greatly  attracted  by  the  little 
lady's  earnest  devotion  to  the  youth.  She  referred  to  "  Tige," 
once  and  again,  in  her  fluent  recital,  until  Miss  Norman  interrupt 
ed  her  by  askiug  who  Tige  was. 

"  Mr.  Gaston,"  answered  Nell ;  "  his  name  is  Henry  ;  but  at  col 
lege  he  got  this  nickname,  because  of  the  invariable  sweetness 
of  his  temper.  No  one  ever  knew  him  to  be  angry." 

"  And  his  brother  resembles  him,  I  suppose  f  said  Niua. 

"  Well,  not  exactly.  Darcy  is  the  best  boy  in  the  world,  but 
he  has  a  fiery  temper.  And  when  his  mind  is  made  up,  he  is 
adamant  !  He  was  at  college  when  the  war  began.  Mr.  Gaston 
had  written  and  spoken  a  great  deal  against  the  whole  theory  of 
secession,  and  he  corresponded  with  Darcy  on  the  same  subject, 
and  really  thought  the  boy  held  his  views.  But  one  dreadful  day, 


THE  OUTLET.  175 

we  got  a  letter  from  him,  that  only  contained  a  few  words;  it  just 
said  :  '  Dear  brother  Tige,  I  can't  stand  everything.  I  am  off  to 
the  army.  Captain  Kuthven  went  last  night.'  And  we  heard  no 
more  of  him  until  the  surgeon  of  the  prison  wrote  to  us,  saying 
Darcy  would  die,  if  we  did  not  get  him  out." 

"  Captain  Kuthven,"  said  Nina*  "Ah!  Was  that  Mr.  Darcy 
Euthveu  ?" 

"  Yes,"  answered  Nell,  surprised.     "  You  have  heard  of  him  f ' 

"  Oh,  yes.    I  heard  that  he  died  or  was  killed." 

"  Yes.  He  died  at  home.  He  had  been  desperately  wounded, 
two  or  three  times,  and  at  last  was  left  at  Lexington,  when  the 
Confederate  forces  retired  from  the  town.  His  wife  died  soon 
after." 

"  And  he  left  no  family  !' ' 

"  One  daughter.    Helen.    The  sweetest  girl  in  Kentucky." 

"A  daughter,"  said  Nina,  eagerly.  "  Oh  !  Mrs.  Gaston,  is  she 
still  alive?" 

"  Certainly  !  That  is,  I  have  not  heard  of  her  death.  But  she 
has  disappeared  unaccountably.  Sbe  went  to  Cincinnati  not  long 
ago,  to  take  charge  of  the  education  of  some  children.  Tige  went 
there  to  look  for  her,  very  recently,  but  she  was  gone." 

"  Gone  !"  said  Nina,  wringing  her  hands. 

"  Yes.  My  husband  has  sought  for  her  in  Chicago,  where  she 
was  supposed  to  be.  He  spent  a  week  there,  but  found  no  traces 
of  her.  Tige,  dear,  please  come  over  here.  Miss  Norman  is  in 
terested  in  poor  Helen's  story." 

"  Interested  1"  ejaculated  Nina,  as  Tige  came  obediently.  "  Mr. 
Gaston,  if  you  can  bring  this  girl  to  me,  you  will  relieve  me  of  the 
only  anxiety  that  troubles  my  life.  Why  have  I  not  heard  that 
Mr.  Kuthven  had  a  daughter  ?  Why  has  your  brother  never  told 
me?" 

"  Darcy  never  saw  her,  I  believe.  Nell  sent  him  to  Lexington 
to  see  her,  and  convey  some  message,  but  she  had  already  gone  to 
Cincinnati.  I  went  there  a  short  time  afterwards,  and  learned 
that  she  had  mysteriously  disappeared.  She  was  governess  in 
the  family  of  Mrs.  Crowder.  While  there  she  had  become  ac 
quainted  with  a  man  who  was  supposed  to  be  a  gentleman,  but. 
who  was  a  great  scoundrel,  and  under  his  evil  intluence,  she 
secretly  left  the  city.  This  man  was  a  friend  of  Professor  Hang, 
of  Chicago — at  least,  so  Mrs.  Crowder  said — and  he  had  also  dis 
appeared,  saying  he  was  going  there.  I  went  to  Chicago  a  little 


176  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

later,  found  Professor  Hang,  and  learned  that  he  had  never  seen 
or  heard  of  this  man." 

"  And  his  name  ?"  said  Nina,  leaning  forward,  eagerly 

"  I  think  I  will  not  tell  his  name,"  replied  Tige,  slowly.  "  I  am 
on  his  track,  if  I  am  not  greatly  mistaken.  Everything  depends 
upon  the  first  steps.  I  dare  not  whisper  his  name,  lest  he  should 
hear,  and  escape  me  !  He  certainly  came  to  New  York." 

"  Have  you  seen  him  ?"  asked  Nina. 

"  No.  But  I  have  his  photograph."  He  took  out  his  pocket- 
book  and  selected  the  picture,  which  he  presented  to  Nina.  A 
deadly  pallor  overspread  her  face,  as  she  looked  at  the  bold,  black 
eyes,  so  resolute  and  insolent.  She  returned  the  picture  with  a 
tiembling  hand. 

"And  this  is  the  only  clue  you  have  ?"  she  said,  as  Tige  replaced 
the  card. 

"  Not  entirely.  I  found  another  scoundrel  in  Cincinnati,  who 
knows  this  one.  He  had  been  a  client  of  mine  in  a  criminal  suit, 
and  I  got  him  off.  I  afterwards  learned  that  he  was  certainly 
guilty.  Heaven  forgive  me  !  He  was  at  the  hotel  in  Cincinnati, 
drunk,  and  while  he  and  I  sat  in  the  smoking-room,  only  three 
nights  ago,  he  revealed  two  or  three  important  matters  to  me. 
I  shall  find  him  anon,  and  then !"  He  paused,  and  a  ferocious 
expression  crept  over  his  countenance,  transforming  the  gentle 
Tige  into  an  incarnate  fiend.  "  If  he  once  comes  within  reach  of 
my  arm,"  he  continued,  "  he  may  go  scot  free — if  he  can." 

Nina  and  Nell  looked  with  apprehension  upon  the  funereal  face 
of  the  handsome  athlete. 

"  Mr.  Grastou,"  whispered  Nina,  after  a  momentary  silence  j  "  this 
man  is  Rupert  Grey." 

"Ah !"  said  Tige;  "you  know  him  then ?" 

"Yes.    But  he  is  beyond  your  reach.    He  is  dead." 

"  Dead  !"  said  Tige,  incredulously. 

"  He  was  killed  on  the  railway  ;  he  fell  over  a  great  precipice, 
and  no  vestige  of  his  body  has  been  found.  A  careful  search  has 
been  made,  and  I  am  assured  that  he  fell  into  the  river,  -at  the 
foot  of  the  cliff,  and  was  swept  away,  miles  below  the  scene  of  the 
accident." 

"  Indeed  1"  said  Tige  indifferently.  "  Well,  to  return  to  Helen. 
Can  you  tell  me  why  he  sought  her  out." 

"  Yes.    I  sent  him  to  find  Darcy  Euthven  or  his  heirs." 

"  You !"  said  Tige,  recoiling,  "  you !" 


TEE  OUTLET,  177 

"Yes,  I,"  responded  Nina:  "  resume  your  seat,  please.  I  have 
charge  of  certain  property  in  which  Darcy  Euthven  or  his  heir 
is  interested.  And  I  sent  Eupert  Grey  to  find  him,  and  bring 
him  to  me.  He  wrote  me  from  Lexington,  I  think,  or  perhaps 
from  Cincinnati,  saying  Euthven  was  dead,  but  he  had  found  the 
heir.  I  thought  he  meant  another.  He  did  not  tell  me  of  the 
daughter.  And  now  I  begin  to  have  some  glimmering  of  the 
truth !  Eupert  has  somehow  discovered  that  Miss  Euthven  would 
inherit  property,  and  has — married  her." 

"  No,"  answered  Tige,  slowly ;  "  he  has  not  married  her." 

"  Are  you  sure  ?"  said  Nina,  doubtfully. 

"  Quite  sure.  Can  it  be  Euthven's  Folly  that  you  mean  by  the 
property !" 

"  Euthven's  Folly  !"  said  Nina. 

"  I  thought  it  might  be  that,  because  I  have  heard  of  the  Euth- 
vens'  interest  in  it.  But  you  are  mistaken,  if  that  is  the  land  you 
refer  to.  I  investigated  that  title  ten  years  ago.  The  Euthvens 
have  no  more  claim  than  I  have.  The  transfers  are  all  in  order." 

"Mr.  Gaston,"  said  Nina,  desperately,  "  I  will  tell  you  everything! 
That  laud  came  into  my  grandfather's  possession  wrongfully !" 

"  Yes,"  said  Tige,  "  I  know  that,  too." 

a  Do  you  ?  Well,  the  settled  purpose  of  my  heart  is  to  restore 
that  identical  property.  1  could  not  rest  in  my  grave  if  I  failed 
to  give  it  back.  And  I  have  had  your  brother  investigating 
deeds,  and  had  almost  arranged  for  the  restoration  of  the  land  to 
him " 

"  To  Darcy  ?"  said  Tige,  interrupting  her. 

"To  your  brother.  Because  his  name  is  Darcy  Euthven.  I 
thought  the  proper  owner  had  died  childless,  and  my  instructions 
are  explicit,  requiring  me  to  give  it  to  '  whoever  bears  his  name.' 
And  the  only  obstacles  now  in  my  way  are  two.  First :  the  property 
is  the  joint  inheritance  of  my  married  sister  and  myself.  I  need  to 
gain  a  clear  title.  Second :  to  find  Helen  Euthven,  and  give  her 
the  deed.  How  can  I  accomplish  this  ?" 

"  Is  the  estate  undivided?"  said  Tige. 

"  Yes.  I  am  going  to  Europe  within  a  week,  and  before  I  sail 
I  hope  to  secure  this  property.  If  I  tell  my  sister  and  her  hus 
band  that  I  intend  to  transfer  it  away  from  the  family,  they  wiK 
leave  no  means  untried  to  prevent  me.  I  do  not  know  the  value 
of  it.  But  I  am  resolved  to  get  it,  at  any  cost.  And  I  am  resolved 

to  dispose  of  it  as  I  have  said." 

12 


178  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

"  There  is  another  obstacle,"  said  Mr.  Gaston,  reflecting,  "  and 
I  am  inclined  to  think  it  more  serious  than  either  you  have  named. 
If  Colonel  Ruthven  were  alive,  no  power  would  be  great  enough 
to  make  him  take  the  property." 

"  But  he  is  dead." 

"True.  And  his  daughter  inherits  his  resentments!  She  will 
not  touch  a  penny  of  it." 

"Ah!  if  I  could  but  see  her!"  said.  Nina,  plaintively.  "Only 
tell  me  how  to  gain  exclusive  title.  I  will  risk  the  rest." 

"  There  is  no  difficulty  there,"  said  Tige,  composedly  j  "  I  will 
tell  your  legal  adviser  how  to  arrange  it." 

"But  I  have  no  legal  adviser.  Mr.  Coke  is  the  family  lawyer, 
and  he  has  charge  of  my  sister's  interests  as  well  as  mine.  I  re 
lied  upon  your  brother  to  devise  the  plan.  I  have  placed  all  the 
papers  in  his  hands." 

"  Well,  I  will  tell  him  the  outlet.  Dismiss  your  anxiety.  I  am 
sure  you  can  get  this  identical  property  without  trouble.  To  find 
t be  child  is  another  matter.  Ah!  here  is  Mr.  Skillet?  Alone!" 

"  Over  to  Brooklyn  !"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  "  ten  o'clock,  too.  Took 
his  night  key.  Said  he  would  stay  until  midnight  p'r'aps!  I  be 
gan  to  think  I  was  a  blamed  old  fool !  But  it's  no  consequence. 
Dassy  is  too  cute  for  me,  and  so  is  the  school-marm  !  Bless  'em, 
how  composed  they  both  looked  when  I  knowed  it  was  jest  as  nat 
ural  for  them  to  be  bilin'  over,  as  for  a  kittle  on  a  red  hot  stove ! 
But  they  pulled  the  wool  over  my  eyes,  slick  !  He  was  there  last 
night,  the  sly  young  cuss  !  Went  to  hearDragger,  he  said.  Nary 
Dragger !  It  was  the  school-marm.  Your  school-marm,  Miss  Keith ! 
She  came  from  Kentucky  with  him.  Same  train,  I  mean.  She 
was  with  that  Mr.  Grey  that  got  smashed  onto  the  rocks  !  Dassy 
sorter  froze  to  her,  when  the  brakesman  came  back.  It's  no  conse 
quence  !  What  in  thunder  are  you  all  starin'  at  ?  She  is  just  as 
pooty  as  a  pink !  but  she  is  sly  as  a  weasel !  Dassy  seed  her  last 
night.  He  up  and  told  Mrs.  Camp  this  evening,  because  she  was 
a  frettin'  about  the  gal.  Took  me  twenty  minits  to  git  it  out  of 
her.  But  she  didn't  know  where  she  was.  Dassy  wouldn't  tell. 
He  just  said  he  was  goin'  to  see  her,  and  he  bolted,  soon  as  it  was 
dark.  And  now,  what  will  you  do  ?  Let  'em  set  or  go  after  Dassy? 
I'm  all  ready,  Mr  Gaston,  if  you  want  to  go.  I  can  put  my  finger 
onto  him  in  thirty-five  minits !" 

"  Go,  Tige !"  said  Nell. 

"  Of  course.    Miss  Norman,  I  will  not  apologize  for  asking  you 


FOLLOWED  AGAIN.  179 

to  wait  also.  Look  !"  and  he  took  another  carte  from  his  pocket 
book.  "  Who  is  this,  Mr.  Skillet  F 

"The  schoolmarm!  Miss  Harding.  Pooty  as  a  pink,  by 
Gemini  !" 

"  Who  is  it,  Nell  F 

"  Helen  !    Oh,  Tige,  is  it  indeed  Helen  F 

"  Beyond  a  doubt !  Come,  Mr.  Skillet,  we  shall  have  a  jolly 
supper  together  before  midnight.  Miss  Norman,  will  you  join  us  P 

"  With  great  pleasure,  and  I  will  keep  Mrs.  Gastou  until  you 
return.  Au  revoir  /" 

"  Here  1"  said  Mr.  Skillet  to  Tige,  "  you've  dropped  your  picter. 
No  !  It's  a  man!  by  Gemini !  It  is  that  ugly  cuss  that  got  smashed 
out  on  the  railroad.  Wa-al !  it's  no  consequence  !  But  I'd  as  lieve 
carry  a  picter  of  the  devil  in  my  pocket !  Come  on  !" 


CHAPTER   XXXYII. 
FOLLOWED  AGAIN. 

DAECY  counted  the  hours  impatiently  as  the  long  day  waxed 
and  waned.  When  Trinity  steeple  banged  out  five  o'clock, 
after  the  usual  preliminary  chime,  he  donned  his  overcoat  and  has 
tened  to  Camden.  street.  He  would  not  have  gone,  but  he  was 
becoming  fastidious  about  his  attire.  After  bestowing  unaccus 
tomed  labour  upon  his  outward  adornments,  he  read  the  papers 
all  over  again,  and,  taking  compassion  upon  Mrs.  Camp,  he  told 
her  he  had  found  Helen,  and  that  she  was  well  and  happy.  He 
was  not  at  liberty  to  say  where  she  was,  but  it  was  quite  possible 
that  he  would  see  her  to-night,  and  he  would  take  Mrs.  Camp's 
love  to  her  with  pleasure.  His  own,  too,  he  added,  mentally. 

He  was  going  to  walk  down,  so  as  to  give  them  time  to  finish 
dinner  at  Mr.  Bruce's ;  but  he  had  dallied  over  the  law  papers, 
and  it  was  near  seven.  So  he  took  a  Fulton  street  omnibus.  As 
he  took  his  seat,  after  paying  his  fare,  another  passenger  entered. 
He  had  almond-shaped  black  eyes,  and  enough  red  beard  to  stuff 
a  small  mattress.  He  was  totally  oblivious  of  Darcy's  existence, 
though  that  sweet  tempered  youth  was  scowling  at  him  with 
vengeful  brows.  The  stage  rolled  down  Broadway,  and  Darcy 
made  up  his  mind.  He  would  ride  down  to  Fulton  street,  then  get 


180  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

out,  walk  back  to  Ann  street,  race  round  to  Nassau,  and  back  into 
Fulton.  If  Mr.  Redwhiskers  followed  he  would  have  an  under 
standing  with  him.  Nassau  street  would  not  be  infested  by  cops 
at  that  hour,  and  he  would  not  detain  the  gentleman  long. 

Fulton  street  was  reached  at  last.  Darcy  had  moved  near  to  the 
door,  and  he  slipped  out,  darted  up  Broadway,  and  down  Ann  street 
to  Nassau,  and  then  walked  quietly  down  to  the  corner.  Nobody 
insight.  In  fact,  the  red  whiskers  had  not  stirred.  Their  owner 
had  tried  Darcy  before,  and,  with  half  a  minute's  start,  he  knew 
he  could  not  get  up  with  him.  So  he  kept  his  seat. 

As  Darcy  passed  through  the  ferry  gate  he  heard  the  boat's  sig 
nal  of  departure,  and  hastened  down  the  slip.  Before  he  stepped 
on  board  he  saw  the  red  whiskers  just  behind  him.  Darcy  decided 
to  wait  for  another  boat,  and  drew  back.  So  did  red  whiskers. 
The  boat  glided  out  into  the  darkness,  and  Darcy  walked  back  to 
the  waiting-room.  Looking  through  the  window,  he  saw  the  other 
lighting  a  cigar,  and  apparently  waiting  composedly  for  the  next 
boat.  There  were  too  many  people  thronging  into  the  ferry  house 
for  a  private  interview.  A  scrimmage,  which,  of  course,  would 
follow  his  address,  kept  him  quiet.  He  had  half  made  up  his  mind 
to  step  out,  knock  the  cigar  out  of  the  fellow's  mouth  and  then 
walk  back.  The  other  boat  came  into  the  slip,  and  he  slipped  out 
with  the  rest.  He  brushed  by  the  red  whiskers  just  as  he  straight 
ened  out  his  arm  to  withdraw  the  cigar,  with  the  old,  insolent  air. 
Darcy  thrust  his  clenched  fists  deep  down  in  his  overcoat  pockets, 
and  held  them  there  by  main  force.  There  was  a  fracas  between 
two  truck  drivers,  and  a  policeman  sauntered  down  the  slip,  parted 
them  with  a  word  or  two,  and  then  marched  back  with  martial 
step.  As  he  passed,  Darcy  touched  his  arm. 

"  May  I  say  a  word  to  you  ?"  said  he,  as  the  officer  turned. 
"  This  person,"  and  he  pointed  to  the  gentleman  with  the  red 
beard,  "  has  followed  me  once  and  again.  I  think  he  is  a  pick 
pocket.  Will  you  please  investigate  him  ?" 

"  Hi,  now  !"  said  the  officer,  "  what  game  are  you  up  to,  Cap  ? 
What  are  you  follerin'  this  gent  for  f 

"  To  steal  my  watch,"  replied  Darcy,  confronting  the  almond 
eyes;  "and,  policeman,  if  you  will  promise  not  to  arrest  me,  I 
will  knock  his  two  insolent  eyes  into  one !" 

"Hi,  now!"  repeated  the  majestic  cop,  " none  o'  your  foolish 
ness  here.  Do  you  make  a  complaint  agin  this  gent  ?" 

Darcy  had  a  wholesome  dread  of  the  station-house.    If  he 


FOLLOWED  AGAIN.  181 

should  make  formal  complaint  he  might  be  detaiued  on  the  New 
York  side.  He  had  been  rash !  If  he  had  waited  until  they  both 
reached  Brooklyn,  he  could  have  led  his  follower  to  some  quiet 
spot  and  settled  the  business  without  the  aid  of  law. 

u  Ask  him  what  he  follows  me  for  f '  said  he  at  length.  "  He  has 
not  answered  you." 

"I  beg  your  pardon !"  said  the  stranger.  "  Are  you  speaking 
to  me  ?" 

"  Come  out  of  the  gangway  !"  said  the  policeman.  "  Here, 
Cap,  let's  have  a  look  at  you  by  the  gaslight." 

The  stran6er  followed  composedly,  and  Darcy  reluctantly. 

"  Now,"  said  the  officer,  as  the  trio  stood  under  the  gas  at  the 
door  of  the  waiting-room,  "  now,  Cap,  seems  to  me  you've  got 
more  red  whiskers  than  ever  growed  on  your  own  chin.  It  is 
pooty  nigh  as  bad  as  the  shiguons  the  wimmen  wear  P  and  he 
took  the  flowing  beard  in  his  fingers  and  slipped  it  off  the  smooth 
chin,  while  the  almond  eyes  snapped  viciously.  The  boat  was  about 
to  start.  Darcy  heard  the  rattle  of  the  chain  and  the  clang  of  the 
engineer's  bell.  He  walked  swiftly  down  the  slip  and  leaped  on 
board,  when  the  boat  was  three  feet  out.  He  caught  a  final 
glimpse  of  the  baleful  eyes  as  the  stranger  adjusted  his  rosy  beard. 
In  another  minute  he  was  out  in  the  stream,  and  Mr.  Grey  was 
baffled  once  more. 

"  Thousand  devils P  said  that  worthy,  wrathfully.  "  Your  cursed 
interference  has  forced  me  to  lose  him  again  !  Could  you  not  see 
what  was  the  matter?  That  infernal  young  cub  has  carried  off  my 
woman  !  and  I  have  been  following  him  in  this  disguise  a  whole 
week  !  Can't  you  tell  a  gentleman  when  you  see  one  P 

The  masterful  air  of  the  man,  as  he  swept  his  arm  round  and 
replaced  the  cigar  in  his  mouth,  awed  the  policeman.  Grey  took 
a  bank  note  carelessly  from  his  waistcoat  pocket,  and  put  it  into 
the  ready  hand  of  the  officer. 

"  This  is  all  irregular,  Cap'ii !"  he  said,  apologetically ;  "  it's 
clean  agin  the  law  to  go  about  with  false  beards,  and  old  white 
coats.  I  was  obliged  to  haul  you  up  when  he  called  me." 

"Too  late  to  talk  about  it  now,"  answered  Rupert;  "  I'll  find 
him  some  other  time.  Here  is  the  other  boat.  Ten  minutes  start 
of  me !  It  is  perfectly  hopeless  to-night.  No  matter ;  I  am  sure 
to  wiu  at  last." 

"  Well,"  said  the  watchful  guardian  of  the  peace,  as  Grey  walked 
quietly  down  the  slip,  "  he  is  a  cool  one — he  is !  You  bet !  But 


182  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

t'other  feller  was  quite  some  savage,  too.  If  them  fellers  meet  in 
some  quiet  spot  there  will  be  some  fur  flying.  You  bet!  A  woman 
in  the  business,  of  course.  And  I  can't  say  as  I  blame  her  much 
if  she  has  run  off  with  t'other  one.  This  black-eyed  chap  is  a 
reg'lar  devil.  You  bet !  He'll  be  took  up  for  murder  some  day, 
and  git  off  with  justifiable  homicide,  or  by  the  insanity  dodge ! 
There  goes  that  lame  soger,  again.  Some  day  I'll  just  tread  on 
that  game  foot  of  his'n,  and  see  if  he  squeals.  Lame  sogers  is 
pooty  nigh  played  out,  anyhow.  Hello !  he's  talking  to  my  Bed- 
whiskers.  There  they  go  into  the  gents'  cabin.  Some  devilment 
hatching  there,  you  bet  I" 

"  Mr.  Bloke  !"  said  Grey,  "  you  are  half  an  hour  late.  If  you 
had  been  here  on  time  you  might  have  followed  our  young  friend 
and  found  out  his  hiding  place." 

"Couldn't  help  it!"  growled  the  soldier;  "had  to  dodge  a 
cussed  cop.  I'm  gitten  werry  uncomfortable,  anyway.  That  cop 
at  the  ferry  looks  at  me  every  eveiiin'  as  if  he'd  like  to  git 
acquainted  with  me.  I'm  goin'  to  cross  at  Wall  street  after  this." 

"  The  cops  are  against  us,"  said  Grey.  "  The  youngster  we 
are  looking  for  just  handed  me  over  to  your  ferry  cop." 

"  He  did  1"  said  Bloke,  aghast. 

"  He  did.    He  said  I  wanted  his  watch." 

"  Cuss  his  impudence !"  said  the  soldier.  "  Why  didn't  you  put 
a  head  onto  him,  boss  ?" 

"  The  opportunity  was  not  favorable,"  replied  Grey ;  "  but  while 
I  was  explaining  to  the  policeman,  he  slipped  away  and  got  off  on 
the  last  boat.  I  had  followed  him  from  Camden  street  all  the  way 
to  the  ferry.  He  dodged  me  once,  but  I  was  sure  he  was  coming, 
so  I  waited  for  him.  It  never  occurred  to  me  that  he  would  dart 
off  as  he  did.  He  leaped  aboard  after  the  boat  started.  He  must 
have  jumped  ten  feet." 

Mr.  Grey's  estimate  was  not  far  wrong.  Darcy's  first  thought, 
when  his  feet  struck  the  deck,  was  that  he  had  pretty  nearly 
jumped  across  the  boat.  He  scrambled  out  of  the  crowd  and 
gained  the  bow,  where  he  had  plenty  of  room.  The  night  was 
cold,  and  the  shivering  passengers  kept  the  cabins. 

"  That  scowling  face,"  thought  Darcy,  as  he  paced  the  narrow 
passage  between  the  chains ;  "  surely  I  have  seen  it  before.  The 
black  moustache  under  the  red  one !  Why  cannot  I  recall  that 
face  I  It  is  not  possible  that  1  should  feel  this  desperate  enmity 
without  cause.  Was  he  one  of  the  officers  at  the  fort,  where  I 


FOLLOWED  AGAIN.  183 

was  imprisoned  I  No.  I  remember  every  one.  Besides,  I  har 
bour  no  resentment  against  them.  They  were  rough  men,  but 
they  did  not  maltreat  me.  This  man  has  exhibited  malice  some 
time,  or  I  could  not  thus  desire  to  throttle  him.  Pickpocket ! 
Not  he.  Why  cannot  I  remember  I  Is  there  another  man  in  the 
world  who  throws  his  head  back,  who  swings  his  arm  out  in  that 
conceited,  insolent  way,  whenever  he  fingers  his  beard  I 

"  Why  does  he  dog  me  ?  It  is  absurd  to  think  that  he  only 
wants  to  rob.  He  would  not  select  me,  certainly.  Is  he  trying  to 
discover  any  one  else,  through  me  ?  Ah  !" 

He  leaned  against  the  rail  and  looked  up  at  the  sparkling 
heavens,  while  a  torrent  of  suggestions  swept  through  his  brain, 
confusing,  bewildering,  almost  stunning  him. 

u  I  thought  I  would  wait  a  little  longer,"  he  murmured ;  "  but  I 
should  go  mad  if  I  did  not  sift  this  mystery  to  the  bottom.  This 
night  will  I  know,  if  ever,  what  hold  that  villain  has  upon  Helen. 
For  it  is  Grey  !  I  remember  now.  I  remember  how  I  shrank 
from  him  on  the  train,  and  how  I  dreamed  about  him  afterwards. 
Grey !  Alive  and  resolute  and  strong.  Oh !  miserable  civiliza 
tion.  If  we  had  lived  a  hundred  years  ago,  I  could  have  waited 
here  for  his  arrival  and  invited  him  to  retire  with  me  and  end 
this  contest  with  our  own  hands  !  It  may  come  to  that  at  last. 
Somehow,  I  know  that  he  stands  between  me  and  Helen.  Some 
how,  he  has  estranged  her  and  made  her  repulse  me.  Somehow, 
he  has  poisoned  her  mind  against  me.  How  could  she  charge  me 
with  fraud  if  this  man  had  not  belied  me  ?  And  his  name  was  in 
that  old  will.  Is  it  possible  that  Helen  thought  I  was  working  in 
his  interests !  Is  it  possible  that  Helen  knows  he  is  alive  I  Patience  I 
In  a  few  hours  I  shall  know." 

The  boat  slipped  into  her  dock,  and  Darcy  sprang  ashore. 
Only  ten  minutes  between  him  and  Helen.  And  he  found  the 
time  short  enough,  as  he  stilled  his  tumultuous  thoughts  and 
smoothed  his  brow,  before  he  rang  the  bell  in  Jeryboblum  street. 


184  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

CHAPTER    XXXVIII. 
A  DECLARATION. 

T  TELEN  was  seated  under  a  drop-light,  busy  with  needle- 
J — L  work,  when  Darcy  entered  the  comfortable  " sitting  room" 
in  Jeryboblum  street.  Three  young  Braces  were  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  round  table,  conning  their  lessons.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bruce  were  out  "to  spend  the  evening."  Darcy  made  a  polite 
speech,  regretting  their  absence,  but  it  was  a  hollow  mockery- 
He  would  not  have  wept  profusely,  if  they  had  taken  the  three 
interesting  girls  with  them.  They  were  charming  girls,  for  they 
gathered  up  their  books,  half  an  hour  after  he  arrived,  and  retired 
to  an  adjoining  room  where  they  were  in  sight,  but  out  of 
earshot. 

"I  have  some  information  for  you,"  he  said,  "and  I  am  happy 
to  think  you  will  be  pleased  to  hear  it." 

She  looked  up  at  him,  noticing  a  certain  huskiness  in  his 
voice. 

"  You  have  a  cold  ?"  she  said.    "  Don't  talk  if  it  troubles  you." 

"  But  I  must  talk,  and  you  must  listen.  First :  You  have  no 
possible  interest  in  the  Norman  property,  at  present.  There  was 
only  one  portion  of  it  in  question,  and  that  belongs  to  the  estate, 
beyond  a  doubt." 

"  Euthven's  Folly,"  said  Helen,  quietly. 

"  Ah  !  you  have  heard  of  it.  Please  tell  me  who  enlightened 
you." 

"  My  father  told  me  some  parts  of  the  story,"  she  answered 
reluctantly. 

"  And  have  you  learned  more,  since — since  you  left  Kentucky?" 

"  Yes." 

He  waited  for  more  explanation,  but  she  kept  her  head  bent 
over  her  work,  and  added  nothing  to  the  monosyllable. 

"  I  will  not  ask  you  any  questions,"  said  Darcy,  "  at  least  not 
now.  Shall  I  tell  you  the  rest  P 

She  bowed  her  head,  without  looking  up. 

"  Well,"  said  Darcy,  slowly,  "  I  think  the  owner  of  Euthven's 
Folly  intends  to  give  you  a  clean  deed " 

"  I  will  never  take  it !"  she  said,  looking  at  him  with  flashing 
eyes.  "  I  have  no  claim  under  the  law.  My  father  has  told  me 
so  many  times." 


A  DECLAMATION.  185 

"True,"  replied  he,  surprised  at  her  vehemence,  "no  legal 
claim.  But  Miss  Norman  is  intent  upon  this  solitary  purpose. 
To  transfer  this  land  to  you,  and  so  resolute  is  she,  that  she  will 
listen  to  no  opposition.  It  is  some  matter  of  conscience,  I  think. 
Perhaps  the  original  transfer  was  unfair.  I  do  not  know  this,  but 
infer  it.  The  value  of  the  property  must  be  large.  I  have  been 
over  the  land.  I  have  learned  the  price  of  contiguous  property. 
Euthven's  Folly  is  worth  more  than  a  hundred  thousand  dollars. 
I  am  satisfied  that  it  rightfully  belongs  to  you!" 

"  One  dollar  or  one  hundred  millions !"  said  Helen,  resolutely ; 
"  I  tell  you  I  will  not  receive  a  penny  of  it.  If  it  is  forced  upon 
me  by  law,  I  will  transfer  it  to  a  hospital  as  soon  as  my  owner 
ship  is  assured.  I  do  not  desire  the  possession.  I  only  ask  for 
permission  to  earn  enough  for  my  needs,  and  I  am  doing  that 
now." 

"  You  make  me  happy,"  said  Darcy,  passionately ;  "  if  you  are 
resolved  to  refuse  this  gift." 

"I  am  resolved!"  said  Helen,  with  haughty  vehemence;  "who 
dares  to  offer  me  a  gift !" 

Darcy  arose,  and  took  the  seat  nearer  to  her.  There  was  a 
little  book  with  a  tortoise  shell  cover  on  the  table.  He  took  it  up, 
and  examined  it.  It  was  a  copy  of  the  New  Testament,  and  bore 
the  marks  of  use.  On  the  fly  leaf  was  written,  "To  darling 
Helen,  from  Father  and  Mother;  Christmas,  1860."  He  drew 
back  a  little  behind  her,  and  furtively  kissed  the  book,  while  the 
thought  passed  through  his  mind  that  he  was  swearing  allegiance 
to  something  or  somebody.  She  half  turned  towards  him,  and  he 
thrust  the  little  book  in  his  breast,  under  the  fold  of  his  waist 
coat. 

"  I  dare !"  he  answered ;  "  but  first,  I  must  tell  you  something 
more.  The  man  who  left  you  on  the  train, — the  paper  said  his 
name  was  Eupert  Grey — the  man  of  whom  I  dreamed  that  night — 
do  you  remember  V 

A  pallor  spread  over  her  face,  but  she  looked  steadily  at  him 
without  reply. 

"  The  time  has  come  when  you  must  tell  me  what  interest  he 
has  in  you,  or  you  in  him!"  continued  Darcy.  "He  is  alive! 
I  saw  him  within  the  hour.  I  have  seen  him  repeatedly,  disguised 
under  a  red  beard,  but  to-night  I  saw  him,  with  the  beard  plucked 
away.  He  followed  me  to  the  ferry,  where  I  accosted  him,  and 
finally  handed  him  over  to  a  policeman." 


186  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

She  covered  her  eyes  with  her  hands  for  a  moment,  and  when 
she  withdrew  them,  Darcy  was  appalled  at  the  expression  of 
anguish  and  honor  upon  her  countenance. 

"  Stop  a  moment,"  she  said ;  "  do  you  say  you  have  had  no 
intercourse  with  him  hitherto  f 

"  Not  a  word  since  we  parted  on  the  train.  I  have  thought  the 
story  of  his  death  was  true." 

"And  this  investigation, — I  mean  your  search  into  the  legal 
title  to  Ruthven's  Folly, — did  he  not  instigate  that?" 

"Certainly  not!"  replied  Darcy;  "I  have  been  acting  under 
instructions  from  Miss  Norman.  I  tell  you  the  man  has  been 
dead  to  me,  except  for  a  strange  presentiment " 

"  And  to  me  also!"  she  said,  wringing  her  hands.  "  Oh,  wretched 
woman  that  I  am !  I  have  hoped  and  prayed  for  the  assurance  of 
his  death.  And  now  that  I  know  that  he  is  alive,  there  is  nothing 
left  for  me  but  death!  Oh,  forgive  me!"  and  she  caught  his  hand 
which  he  had  stretched  out  to  her — "forgive  my  cruel  words  to 
you,  my  cruel  suspicion!  I  thought  you  were  aiding  him  in  his 
wicked  designs  against  me!" 

"  Oh,  Helen !"  he  murmured. 

"  All  that  miserable  day  on  the  train,  before  he  disappeared, 
she  continued,  "  he  was  unfolding  his  villainous  schemes  to  me. 
And  when  the  story  came — you  told  me — of  his  certain  death,  I 
felt  that  Heaven  had  given  me  sudden  deliverance.  And  when 
you  came  to  me  the  other  night — ah !  you  asked  me  precisely  the 
same  questions  he  had  asked — I  thought  you  and  he  had  concocted 
a  new  scheme,  and  that  his  pretended  death  was  part  of  it!" 

"  How  could  you  think  this,"  whispered  Darcy,  drawing  still 
nearer  to  her ;  "  how  could  you  fail  to  see  that  I  loved  you — that 
my  life  was  bound  up  in  you! "  She  held  up  her  hand,  re 
pelling  him,  but  he  caught  it  in  his,  and  poured  out  his  soul  in  a 
torrent  of  passionate  words — not  heeding  her  dismay.  "  Nay, 
listen  to  me!  When  I  found  you  might  inherit  all  this  money,  I 
drew  back,  because  I  am  poor.  But  when  you  avowed  your  deter 
mination  to  refuse  it,  joy  came  to  my  heart  again,  for  I  can  work 
and  earn,  and  the  obstacles  that  are  in  my  way  are  but  shadows. 
Oh,  Helen  !  if  you  will  only  allow  me  to  love  you,  I  will  not  come 
near  you  again,  until  I  can  say  I  have  enough.  Enough  !  I  have 
enough  now.  My  earnings  are  already  far  beyond  my  needs! 
But  you  have  not  known  me  long  enough,  though  your  father  and 
mine  were  life-long  friends.  Let  me  come  once  a  week,  if  no  more, 


A  DECLARATION.  187 

and  just  say, 1 1  love  you,'  and  I  will  wait  for  years  if  you  will, 
for  your  response  !" 

"You  are  mad!"  she  said,  recoiling;  "say  not  another  word! 
I  must  not  listen " 

"  To-morrow,  then !"  he  pleaded ;  "  don't  answer  me  now,  but 
tell  me  I  may  come  to-morrow  evening !" 

"  Never !  Never  come  again !  Never  say  such  words  to  me 
again!" 

"  Listen  !"  said  Darcy,  seizing  her  hand  again ;  "  you  must  hear 
me  !  I  divine  4hat  this  wretched  scoundrel  who  has  dogged  me 
nearly  every  night  for  a  week,  this  Rupert  Grey,  has  some  strange 
influence  over  you!  He  is  between  you  and  me,  Helen!  I  will 
cut  him  into  a  hundred  pieces  before  I  will  relinquish  you.  Do 
not  be  controlled  by  so  shallow  a  rascal.  Oh,  if  I  dared  to  plead 
with  you  to  give  me  a  husband's  right  to  defend  you " 

"  Be  silent !"  she  said,  with  white  lips ;  "  you  are  talking  to 
Eupert  Grey's  wife!  Do  you  hear?  His  wife !" 

Darcy  dropped  her  hand,  and  turned  away.  The  agony  in  her 
tones  and  manner  was  as  nothing,  he  thought,  compared  with  that 
which  he  endured.  Married  !  And  to  Kupert  Grey  ! 

The  three  girls  in  the  other  room,  were  reciting  their  tasks  to 
each  other.  Darcy  listened  with  dull  ears,  catching  the  monot 
onous  sentence  a  dozen  times  repeated  :  "  A  verb  is  a  word  which 
signifies  to  be,  or  to  do,  or  to  sutler  ;  as,  I  am,  I  love,  I  am  loved." 

"  I  am  so  stunned  by  this  intelligence,"  said  Darcy,  gravely, 
after  a  prolonged  silence,  "  that  I  hardly  know  what  is  decorous  to 
say.  I  have.said  some  things  about  your — your  husband !"  and 
he  gasped,  "  that  I  should  recall.  I  had  not  dreamed  that  such 
horrors  could  be  in  real  life.  It  is  not  proper  to  ask  you  any  fur 
ther  questions.  And  I  am  torn  asunder  by  two  different  feelings ; 
joy — a  fierce,  devilish  joy,  in  the  conviction  that  this  horrible  mar 
riage  is  horrible  to  you ;  and  unfeigned  sorrow  that  the  man  is  so 
far  unworthy  of  you,  and  that  he  gives  no  token  that  will  warrant 
a  hope  for  anything  better.  I  will  say  nothing  about  the  shock  to 
me.  I  will  not  apologize  for  the  professions  I  have  made,  in  happy 
ignorance  of  your  true  relations.  And  in  the  midst  of  the  horror 
of  great  darkness,  that  envelopes  my  life,  I  can  only  see  one 
certain  ray  of  light.  It  would  be  unbecoming  in  me  to  ask— it 
would  be  more  unbecoming  in  you  to  tell — anything  that  Mr.  Grey 
would  keep  secret.  But  I  am  the  sou  of  your  Father's  trusted 
friend  j  a  friend  who  loved  your  Father  so  truly,  that  he  gave  me  his 


188  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

name.  And  it  is  plain  to  my  mind  that  I  may  ask  you  to  remember 
this.  Think  of  me  only  as  a  man  who  would  worthily  bear  the 
name  of  your  Father,  and  honour  me  by  demanding  any  service  a 
gentleman  could  render  to  a  dear  sister,  whenever  the  need  may 
arise." 

"  You  are  kind,  and  I  thank  you,"  she  murmured ;  "  and  it  is 
due  to  you  and  to  me  to  say  a  word  more.  I  have  been  weak  and 
foolish,  but  I  have  tried  to  do  right — always.  I  have  been  rash, 
was  ignorant,  and  easily  entrapped.  But  while  I  remember  that 
you  bear  the  name  of  Darcy  Euthven,  I  will  also  not  forget  that  I 
am  his  daughter,  and  I  will  never  participate  in  dishonest  plans 
or-  purposes.  I  will  not  have  a  dollar  from  the  Normans,  or  from 
Kuth  ven's  Folly.  Alas !  The  true  name  of  the  property  is  Ruth 
veil's  Curse!  Are  you  going  ?  Goodnight!" 

As  Darcy  passed  up  through  the  hall,  he  heard  the  old  song 
again.  "  A  verb  is  a  word  which  signifies  to  be,  or  to  do,  or  to 
gutter ;  as,  I  am,  I  love,  I  am  loved." 

"  If  they  would  leave  oft'  the  last  three  words,"  thought  Darcy. 
"  I  think  I  might  pass  for  a  Verb !" 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 
THE  LITTLE  GAME. 

A  FTER  dismissing  Miss  Abby  Keith,  Rupert  ascended  to 
-O-  his  own  chamber,  the  front  room  on  the  second  floor.  He 
had  a  habit  of  taking  the  best  places  in  all  houses,  by  the  aggres 
sive  force  of  sheer  effrontery.  He  was  always  well  placed  in 
hotels,  and  when  he  returned  from  his  Western  journey,  and 
decided  to  favor  Dr.  Lamis  with  a  visit,  he  coolly  requested  his 
host  to  give  him  this  chamber,  "  as  he  liked  to  have  a  view  of  the 
street."  Dutchy,  alias  Bloke,  occupied  the  little  hall-room,  on  the 
same  floor.  Mr.  Grey  found  this  worthy  waiting  for  him  at  the 
head  of  the  stairs.  His  lame  foot  was  still  in  bandages,  but  he 
was  without  his  crutch,  and  he  followed  Rupert  into  his  comforta 
ble  apartment,  without  limping. 

"  Take  a  seat,  Mr.  Bloke,"  said  he,  politely  j  "  I  have  two  pills 
to  take  now,  and  two  more  at  bed  time.  Lamis  says  I  am  threat 
ened  with  a  return  of  those  cursed  chills  I  found  in  Virginia." 


THE  LITTLE  GAME.  189 

He  took  a  pill-box  from  a  drawer  in  the  bureau,  and  while 
Dutchy  watched  all  his  proceedings,  he  cut  an  apple  in  half, 
scraped  a  portion  of  it  upon  the  end  of  a  paper  knife,  imbedded 
two  of  the  pills  in  the  pulp  and  swallowed  them. 

"  Nice?"  asked  Dutchy,  with  a  shudder.    "  K'neen,  I'spose  ?" 

"  Yes,"  replied  Bupert;  "very  nice.  Will  you  have  the  other 
two?  Quinine,  two  grains  each!  About  the  size  of  pistol 
bullets." 

"Thankee!"  said  Mr.  Bloke;  "  I  guess  I  won't  take  any. 
What  do  you  want  with  that  young  feller  we've  been  follerin'  f ' 

"  Well,"  answered  Grey,  meditating,  "  I  think  you  will  have  to 
knock  him  in  the  head  for  me.  But  do  not  be  hasty.  I  must  get 
some  information  from  him  first.  He  will  go  back  to  New  York 
to-night.  Say  about  ten.  We  will  watch  the  ferry." 

"  Pooty  cold  work  1"  said  Bloke ;  "  Boss,  I'm  gittin'  sick  of  this 
here  business  !  All  the  cops  in  N'Yauk  will  know  me  before 
spring.  I  think  I'll  move  away  somewheres." 

"  Pooh  1"  said  Kupert,  "  you  are  frightened  at  shadows.  I'll 
get  you  a  place  in  the  Custom  House,  and  you  will  be  perfectly 
safe.  We  need  not  go  to  the  ferry  until  ten,  or  thereabouts. 
How  will  you  amuse  yourself?" 

"  If  we  had  keards,"  said  Bloke,  "  we  might  try  a  little 
euchre." 

"  Cards !  Of  course.  Here  is  a  new  pack.  But  I  am  not  going 
to  lose  this  time.  Have  you  any  money  ?" 

"  Guess  I  can  cover  your  bets,"  said  Dutchy,  with  a  grin ; 
"  How  much  will  you  go  ?" 

"  Five  dollars  a  game,  and  ten  on  the  rub,"  said  Grey,  shuffling 
the  cards  ;  "  how  much  can  you  afford  to  lose  I" 

"  Much  as  you  can  win,  I  guess,"  responded  Dutchy,  drawing 
up  his  chair ;  "  Here's  my  five.     Cover  it !" 
.  After  four  or  five  games,  Dutchy  being  loser  in  all,  he  produced 
a  long  pocket-book  from  some  unexplored  recess  of  his  habili 
ments,  and  took  out  a  package  of  bright  new  notes. 

"  Cussed  bad  luck  ! "  he  muttered,  "  Boss,  let's  double  the  bet." 

"  Agreed,"  replied  Grey,  "  you  will  be  out  of  your  misery  all  the 
sooner.  Where  did  you  get  this  clean  money?  You  must  have 
negotiated  a  loan  at  some  bank — with  a  crowbar  !" 

"  Never  you  mind ! "  said  Bloke ;  "  win  it,  and  theu  it  will  be 
yourn.  Spades !" 

The  little  clock  on  the  mantel  struck  nine,  as  Dutchy  put  his 


190  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

empty  pocket-book  on  the  glowing  coals  in  the  grate.  Eupert 
was  putting  his  in  a  deep  pocket,  in  the  inside  of  his  waistcoat. 
The  fatal  cards  were  still  on  the  table.  Dutchy  gathered  them 
up,  and,  slipping  half  of  them  in  his  pocket,  threw  the  remainder 
in  the  fire. 

"  I'll  be  ready,  Boss,"  he  said,  as  he  moved  to  the  door ;  "  you 
can  call  for  me  at  ten.  Mebbe  I'll  git  a  nap."  He  stood  a  moment 
watching  Eupert  light  his  cigar,  and  manipulate  it  between  the 
first  and  second  fingers  of  his  right  hand,  as  he  removed  it  from 
under  his  black  moustache,  blowing  out  the  rings  of  smoke. 
Phrenologists  say  the  organ  of  self-esteem  is  situated  on  the  back 
of  the  cranium.  When  it  is  so  well  developed  as  to  merge  into 
conceit,  its  gravity  tilts  the  head  back,  and  the  chin  up.  And  as 
Eupert  moved  his  cigar  back  and  forth,  straightening  his  arm 
out,  and  tossing  his  chin  upward,  Dutchy  appeared  to  be  fasci 
nated.  He  closed  the  door  after  him,  and  walked  softly  down  the 
staircase  and  into  the  quiet  street. 

There  was  an  oyster-house  on  the  corner  of  an  alley,  and  Dutchy 
dropped  in  here,  ordering  a  "plate  o'  fried  and  a  lager."  While  he 
waited  for  the  meal,  he  sat  at  a  corner  table,  and  examined  the 
cards  he  had  slipped  into  his  pocket.  They  were  checker-backed, 
and  Dutchy  scrutinized  them  closely  under  the  flaring  gas-light. 
When  the  oysters  came,  he  put  the  cards  away  again,  and  fell  to. 

"  All  the  Jacks  have  a  wide  streak  in  the  checker ! "  he  mut 
tered,  "  and  all  the  aces  have  a  narrer  streak.  He  might  as  well 
have  stole  that  money.  Must  git  it  back!  And  I  will !" 

On  the  opposite  corner  was  an  apothecary  shop.  Dutchy  paid 
for  his  feast,  and  then  went  across  and  looked  through  the  win 
dow.  A  smart-looking  youth  was  seated  behind  the  counter, 
reading  the  U.  S.  Pharmacopeia.  Dutchy  walked  in  boldly,  and 
addressed  the  erudite  youth  : 

"  Say,  Mister !"  he  began  with  doleful  accents ;  "  I've  got  a 
pet  dorg.  Newfinland.  Big  as  a  small  hoss.  But  I've  got  to 
kill  him,  and  I  want  to  do  it  with  doctor's  stuff." 

"  All  right,  sir,"  said  the  youth  ;  "  what'll  you  have  ?" 

"  Guess  you  know  best,"  replied  Dutchy.  "  I  wan't  su'thin  that'll 
kill  him  quick,  without  hurtin." 

"  Strychnine  2"  said  the  young  man. 

"  Is  that  strong  stuff?" 

"Guess  you'd  think  so,"  said  the  apothecary,  "if  you'd  try  a 
grain  or  two."  He  took  a  small  bottle  from  the  case,  and  shook 
the  crystals.  "  Enough  in  this  bottle  to  kill  a  regiment." 


THE  LITTLE  GAME.  19 1 

"  Can't  you  make  it  into  a  pill  f '  said  Dutchy.  "  You  see  my 
dorg  has  been  bit  by  a  mad  dorg,  and  I  am  afeard  o'  him.  If  you 
can  make  it  in  a  pill  or  two,  I  could  put  it  in  a  bit  of  meat." 

The  young  Esculapius  was  ambitious.  He  was  not  often  left  in 
charge  of  the  store,  and  he  burned  to  show  his  mastery  of  his 
dreadful  art.  However,  there  were  certain  formalities. 

"It  is  not  regular,"  he  said,  "to  sell  strychnine,  without  a 
doctor's  prescription.  You  see  it  is  dangerous  stuff." 

"  Ezackly  !"  responded  Dutchy  ;  "  it's  dangerous  stuff  I  want. 
No  doctor  is  goin'  to  give  me  a  prescription  for  dorg-pizon.  Cuss 
the  dorg !  I'd  shoot  him,  and  be  done  with  it,  only  he's  a  pet. 
My  children  would  go  crazy,  if  I  was  to  shoot  Bull !  But  if  he 
dies,  you  know,  they  can't  say  nauthin',  and  they  won't  git  bit 
neither.  Does  the  stuff  cost  much  ?" 

"  I  s'pose  a  dollar  will  do.  Pills  ?  You  can  sprinkle  the  powder 
on  the  meat " 

"  Pills  is  the  best,"  said  Dutchy,  positively ;  "  make  me  a 
couple.  Here  is  the  dollar.  Cuss  the  dorg !  He  is  as  expensive 
as  a  human." 

The  apothecary  retired  behind  the  screen  over  the  prescription 
case,  took  a  little  paste  on  the  end  of  a  spatula,  and  rolled  out  the 
pills. 

"Mark  'em  pizon,  please,"  said  Dutchy,  as  the  other  rolled  the 
pills  in  flour ;  "  that  is,  mark  the  box." 

"Of  course,  replied  the  dispenser;  "label  has  skull  and  cross- 
bones  on  it.  Now  just  please  write  your  name  and  address  in  this 
book.  We  always  take  the  names  of  people  who  buy  poisons." 

"  Ezackly,"  said  Dutchy,  readily;  "only  I'm  done  with  writiu. 
Been  in  the  war,  and  got  a  ball  in  my  right  elber.  My  writin' 
days  are  done.  You  write  it  down,  and  I'll  make  my  mark. 
Cap'n  Thomas  Smith,  N'Yauk  Zooaves,  two  hundred  and  sixty- 
nine,  Burton  street." 

"  Where  the  dickens  is  Burton  street  ?"  said  the  apothecary, 
writing  the  address. 

"  Half  a  mile  off,"  replied  Dutchy,  pocketing  the  pills,  "and  I've 
got  to  walk.  Snowin'  too !  Cuss  the  luck  !  Good  night." 

Dutchy  had  a  latch  key.  He  gained  his  hall  chamber,  and 
threw  himself  on  the  bed,  not  to  sleep,  but  to  meditate.  He  heard 
a  murmur  of  voices  down  stairs,  and  distinguished  the  tones  of 
his  friend,  Mr.  Blake,  in  conversation  with  Doctor  Lamis.  With 
the  prompt  courage  that  would  have  been  heroic  in  a  better  man, 


192  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

engaged  in  lawful  enterprise,  he  walked  into  Rupert's  room.  The 
gas  was  burning,  and  the  pill-box  was  on  the  mantel.  Dutehy 
took  it  up,  threw  the  two  pills  it  contained  into  the  grate,  replaced 
them  with  his  recent  purchase,  and  then  walked  soberly  back  to 
his  virtuous  couch. 

Rupert  wakened  him  from  a  profound  slumber,  five  minutes 
later. 

"  Come,  Mr.  Bloke,"  he  said,  gaily;  " let  us  take  a  promenade." 

"  Cussed  cold,"  growled  Dutchy,  sitting  up  on  the  bedside. 

"  Well,  the  exercise  will  warm  you.  Better  bring  your  crutch 
too.  It  would  be  useful,  if  we  have  to  scuffle." 

"  Got  su'thin  better  nor  that,"  said  Dutchy  ;  "  I'm  all  ready." 

He  followed  Rupert  across  the  hall  and  into  his  chamber.  The 
latter  took  his  hirsute  adornments  from  the  bureau,  and  was 
about  to  put  them  on.  But  after  a  moment's  reflection,  he  thrust 
them  back  in  the  drawer. 

"  I  think  I  will  dispense  with  that  rosy  beard  hereafter,"  he 
said ;  "  the  policeman  pulled  it  off  to-night,  and  it  is  a  nuisance, 
anyhow.  And  now  I'll  take  the  other  pill,  and  be  done  with,  it." 

The  little  clock  on  the  mantel  struck  ten. 

"Too  late!  Can't  stop  to  scrape  apples  now.  Will  do  when 
we  return.  I  say,  Bloke !  the  bank  notes  I  won  from  you  to-night 
are  exactly  like  those  described  in  the  stevedore  robbery.  Same 
bank,  and  all  new." 

"  Cuss  the  bank."  replied  Bloke,  rudely ;  "  never  you  mind  the 
bank,  boss.  Wot  you  want  with  that  pistol  F 

"  Ah  !  I  don't  know,"  said  Rupert ;  "but  it  is  handy  to  have  a 
Derringer.  Come  on." 

As  Dutchy  limped  down  stairs  behind  him,  he  thought  if  he 
should  find  an  opportunity  in  the  street,  he  would  try  the  thick 
ness  of  his  patron's  skull.  That  Derringer  was  an  insult  to  him, 
personally. 


CHAPTER     XL. 
THE  OLD  CHURCH. 

WHEN  Darcy  Gaston  turned  away  from  Mr.  Bruce's  door, 
he  was  muttering  to  himself  the  sing-song  repetitions  of 
the  girls'  lessons,  in   Lindley  Murray:   "To  be,  to  do,  and  to 
suffer  1" 


THE  OLD  CHURCH.  193 

"  It  is  an  easy  problem  to  solve,"  he  thought;  "to  be  a  man ; 
to  do  known  duty:  to  sufter  such  experiences  as  come  providen 
tially.  The  light  has  gone  out  of  my  life  for  the  present,  but  I 
can  find  duty  in  the  midst  of  darkness.  What  inexplicable  fate 
could  have  given  this  gentle  girl  to  yonder  brute  !  She  shudders 
at  the  very  mention  of  his  name,  and  if  he  should  maltreat  her, 
I  dare  not  interfere !" 

He  walked  down  the  street,  while  the  snow  spotted  his  coat 
and  hat.  It  was  falling  in  little  flakes,  and  very  gently,  just 
whitening  the  ground.  So  filled  with  the  memories  of  the  last 
hour,  that  he  did  not  notice  his  route,  turning  the  corners  when 
he  came  to  them,  and  walking  rapidly  on.  When  he  looked 
around  him  at  last,  he  was  at  the  door-step  again.  He  had  gone 
around  the  square,  unconscious.  He  felt  as  a  man  feels  who 
has  taken  an  over  dose  of  opium. 

"  This  will  never  do,"  he  murmured ;  "  I  am  behaving  like  a 
school- boy.  Now  for  home,  and  bed !  Home !  Ah,  what  a  dull 
business  this  life  is !  Nothing  but  eating  and  sleeping.  I  cannot 
see  before  me  anything  worth  striving  for.  I'll  fast  all  day  to 
morrow,  and  see  if  I  can't  get  hungry.  Here  is  the  corner,  and 
the  ferry  is  off'  here  to  the  left." 

He  fell  into  a  semi-stupor  again,  and,  gradually  slackening  his 
pace,  he  stopped  at  last,  and  leaned  idly  against  an  iron  railing 
fencing  in  an  old  building.  Looking  incuriously  through  the 
bars,  he  noticed  the  outlines  of  the  house.  The  gable  facing  the 
street,  and  a  steeple  upon  it.  Surely  he  had  seen  it  before  !  A 
gray  stone  was  let  into  the  red  brick  wall,  and  some  sort  of  in 
scription  upon  it,  hidden  by  patches  of  snow.  He  tried  to  read 
it,  but  could  only  make  out  one  word :  "  Sexton."  He  looked 
down  the  long  street,  noticing  the  gas  lamps  on  either  side,  and 
noticing  also  the  portentous  quiet.  Then  he  heard  the  thud  of  a 
crutch— clamp  !  clamp  ! — coming  down  a  side  street,  and  finally 
saw  the  cripple  turning  the  corner.  He  watched  him,  fascinated, 
as  he  limped  past  the  church,  clamp,  clamp !  down  to  the  next 
corner,  around  it,  and  out  of  sight. 

Wide  awake  now,  and  alert.  The  next  event  would  be  the 
appearance  of  Rupert  Grey.  He  took  his  revolver  from  the 
pocket  on  his  hip,  and,  with  his  thumb  on  the  hammer,  thrust  it 
into  the  outside  pocket  of  his  overcoat,  and  waited. 

The  church  was  on  the  corner,  surrounded  by  an  iron  railing. 
There  was  a  narrow  passage  between  it  and  the  next  house, 

13 


194  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

closed  by  an  iron  grating.  As  the  clamp  of  the  crutch  died 
away,  this  gate  was  pushed  open,  and  a  man  stepped  out  upon  the 
snow-covered  pavement.  Darcy  turned  as  he  approached,  and 
faced  him.  His  pulses  were  not  accelerated,  but  he  gathered  up 
his  faculties,  feeling  that  a  catastrophe  was  impending.  There 
flashed  across  his  mind  the  memory  of  his  only  battle-field,  and 
of  the  supreme  moment  when  an  overwhelming  force  of  cavalry 
galloped  down  the  hillside  upon  him,  surrounding  him  with  a 
forest  of  glittering  sabres. 

"Good  evening,"  said  the  stranger,  courteously.  He  removed 
his  cigar  as  he  spoke,  and,  blowing  a  cloud  of  smoke  into  the 
frosty  air,  replaced  the  cigar  with  elaborate  grace,  bis  head 
thrown  back,  and  his  chin  upturned. 

"  Good  evening,"  replied  Darcy,  with  cold  composure. 

*'  I  have  desired  an  interview  with  you,"  said  the  new  comer, 
"  since  I  left  you  so  abruptly  on  the  train." 

"  Yes,"  said  Darcy,  "  you  have  made  several  attempts  to  find 
out  my  habitation  and  habits.  I  hope  you  are  satisfied  with  your 
success." 

"Only  passably,"  returned  Mr.  Grey;  "  I  am  afraid  you  rather 
shunned  me.  Once  or  twice  I  was  quite  within  reach  of  you,  but 
you  seemed  to  evade  me  very  adroitly.  That  was  a  good  dodge 
to  night,  when  you  handed  me  over  to  a  policeman.  But  the 
contest  is  unequal,  my  dear  sir.  And  you  are  probably  aware  of 
the  fact  that  you  are  cornered,  if  I  may  use  the  expression." 

"What  do  you  desire  ?"  said  Darcy,  calmly;  "I  thought  you 
meditated  robbery,  until  I  saw  you  with  your  red  beard  displaced. 
Perhaps  I  have  not  been  mistaken,  after  all.  I  have  but  little 
worth  stealing,  and  there  would  be  some  risk  involved  in  taking 
that." 

"  Your  candor  charms  me,"  responded  Grey;  "I  only  desire  the 
return  of  the  property  I  left  in  your  charge.  The  young  woman." 

"  Ah !"  said  Darcy,  startled,  "  I  cannot  comply  with  your 
request.  She  is  not  under  my  charge." 

"But you  can  probably  find  her!"  said  Eupert,  drawing  nearer; 
"  you  will  perhaps  see  her  again." 

"  I  think  not.    I  do  not  expect  to  see  her  again." 

"  Well,"  said  Kupert,  throwing  his  cigar  at  his  feet,  "  you  will, 
perhaps,  oblige  me  by  saying  when  and  where  you  saw  her  last?" 

Darcy  meditated.  The  crisis  had  arrived.  He  drew  back  the 
hammer  of  the  pistol,  still  in  his  hand.  At  the  same  moment 


THE  OLD  CHURCH.  195 

the  thought  that  he  could  not  kill  this  particular  villain,  because 
of  his  relationship  to  Helen,  dawned  upon  his  mind.  How  could 
he  ever  go  to  her  again,  with  bloody  hands  !  And  yet  if  he  were 
only  dead ! 

"  I  cannot  answer  your  question,"  he  said,  at  length ;  "  I  know 
nothing  that  I  can  reveal.  And  I  must  terminate  this  interview. 
It  is  growing  late." 

Clamp !  clamp  !  The  dull  thud  of  the  crutch  coming  around 
the  corner.  The  cripple  appeared,  and,  painfully  limping,  ap 
proached.  Darcy  placed  his  back  against  the  railing. 

"  Mr.  Bloke  !"  said  Grey,  "  this  gentleman  is  reticent,  and  all 
my  eloquence  is  wasted  upon  him.  Mr.  Gaston,"  he  continued, 
suddenly,  "  you  are  in  peril !  Answer  my  question,  or  take  the 
consequences  !  You  will  not  ?  Then,  curse  you  !  I'll  see  that  you 
do  not  answer  any  other  !  Go  for  him,  Bloke !" 

As  Dutchy  raised  his  crutch,  straightening  himself  upon  his  de 
fective  leg,  Darcy  darted  forward,  and  caught  Kupert  by  the 
throat  with  his  left  hand.  He  drew  forth  the  pistol  with  his  right, 
and  aiming  at  the  repulsive  visage  of  the  soldier,  fired.  Dutchy 
pushed  the  muzzle  aside,  almost  as  it  touched  his  face,  and  two 
of  his  fingers  dropped  in  the  snow.  At  the  same  instant  Eupert 
pressed  the  derringer  against  Darcy's  breast,  and  pulled  the  trig 
ger,  as  Dutchy's  heavy  crutch  descended  upon  his  head.  Darcy 
fell  forward,  rolled  over  once,  and  then  lay  motionless.  •  The  white 
snow  was  stained  with  crimson.  The  murderers  pushed  the  iron 
grating  open  and  rushed  through  the  narrow  alley,  as -a  carriage 
turned  the  church  corner. 

"  Don't  run,"  whispered  Kupert,  as  they  emerged  upon  the  next 
street,  "  walk  quietly.  Where  is  your  crutch  ?" 

"  Broke  it  over  that  feller's  head  !  Was  that  a  kerridge  that 
come  round  the  corner  P 

"  Yes.  But  it  can't  come  through  the  alley.  We've  killed  him, 
Bloke !" 

"  You  bet,"  answered  Mr.  Bloke. 

"  It  is  a  bad  business !  Curse  his  obstinacy  !  We  must  get 
out  of  this  neighbourhood  without  delay.  Are  you  sure  he  was 
dead  ?" 

"  I  smelt  his  coat  burnin',"  replied  Dutchy  j  "  your  pistol  was 
touchin'  his  breast ;  if  it  shoots  strong,  he's  as  dead  as  a  hammer, 
and  if  his  head  arn't  made  outen  iron,  it's  mashed  in  two  inches 
deep.  Let's  go  down  this  street." 


196  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

"  You  are  mad !"  said  Rupert,  "  tMs  street  will  take  us  back 
to  the  old  church." 

"  Yes.  I  thought  I  might  find  my  fingers !"  and  he  held  up  the 
bleeding  stump.  "  Don't  hurt  much !  Feels  kind  o'  nuinb  like. 
But  I  must  wrap  it  up.  Lend  us  your  hankercher !" 

Rupert  looked  at  the  stolid  face  of  his  companion,  with  undis 
guised  admiration. 

"  You  should  have  been  a  soldier,  Bloke,"  he  said  j  "  I  would 
give  all  the  money  I  have  to  bring  that  youth  to  life  again !" 

"  You'll  have  to  give  me  some  of  it  for  helping  to  kill  him !" 
said  Dutchy  ;  "  my  fingers  was  worth  two  hundred  dollars  apiece, 
if  only  for  stealin' !  What  a  cussed  young  wildcat  he  was  !  If 
I  hadn't  been  there,  boss,  you  would  have  been  a  layin'  with  your 
toes  turned  up !" 

They  gained  the  house  unmolested.  Dutchy  followed  his  pa 
tron  into  his  room.  Doctor  Larais  was  summoned,  and  after  co 
pious  washings  of  the  wounded  hand,  he  cut  away  the  torn  flesh, 
secured  the  little  arteries,  and  dressed  the  wound  artistically. 
"He  was  foolin'  with  Mr.  Blake's  pistol,"  he  said,  "-and  it  went 
off  in  his  hand." 

"  Now,  Boss,"  said  Dutchy,  when  the  Doctor  retired,  "  if  you'll 
give  me  one  of  them  prime  smokers  of  yourn,  I'll  take  a  whiff  or 
two  before  I  go  to  bed.  And  you  had  better  settle  up  with  me  for 
all  this  business,  too.  I  shall  move  to-inorrow  pooty  early." 

"  How  much  do  you  want  ?"  said  Rupert,  giving  him  the  cigar. 

"  Well,  say  four  hundred  dollars !" 

"  Four  hundred  devils !"  replied  Rupert ;  "  do  you  think  I  have 
a  bush  that  bears  greenbacks  *?" 

"  Shouldn't  wonder,"  said  Dutchy,  gruffly ;  any  way  you  win'd 
three  hundred  clean  dollars  from  me  to-night.  I  want  them  and 
another  hundred." 

"  Your  demands  are  too  heavy,  Mr.  Bloke,"  said  Rupert,  coolly ; 
"  I  will  give  you  say  fifty  dollars.  Not  a  cent  more  !  No  use  to 
debate  that  point !" 

He  turned  his  back  upon  Dutchy,  and  leaned  his  head  upon  the 
arm  of  his  chair.  Dutchy  felt  in  the  pocket  of  his  overcoat  for 
the  "  billy"  he  habitually  carried.  His  mind  was  made  up.  He 
would  tap  his  patron  gently  on  the  temple,  and  would  then  "  set 
tle  "  according  to  his  own  ideas  of  justice.  Before  he  drew  the 
deadly  little  weapon  out,  Mr.  Grey  arose. 

"  I  had  nearly  forgotten  the  pills,"  he  murmured.     Dutchy 


ME.  SKILLETS  PLAN.  197 

dropped  the  billy,  and  stretched  himself  out  upon  the  lounge, 
smoking  vigorously. 

Mr.  Grey  scraped  the  apple  again,  dropped  the  pills  into  the 
pulp,  covered  them  up  carefully  and  swallowed  them. 

Mr.  Dutchy,  overcome  with  fatigue,  fell  asleep,  after  tossing  his 
cigar  into  the  fire. 


CHAPTEE   XLI. 
ME.  SKILLET'S  PLAN. 

AS  the  carriage  rolled  down  Broadway,  conveying  Mr.  Skillet 
and  Mr.  Henry  Gaston,  the  former  entertained  Tige  with 
voluminous  accounts  of  the  doings  of  "  Dassy,"  from  the  catastro 
phe  on  the  snow-bound  train  down  to  the  present  day.  He  had 
an  attentive  listener,  and  Mr.  Skillet,  charmed  out  of  his  custom 
ary  bashfulness,  "  talked  right  along,"  to  use  his  own  expression. 

"  I  seed  that  the  boy  was  ra-al  grit,"  he  said,  "  when  he  first 
sot  himself  down  by  Miss  Harding.  That  Grey  chap  kuowed  him. 
He  mentioned  his  name  before  he  left  the  car." 

"  Yes,"  answered  Mr.  Gaston;  "  he  met  Darcy  in  Lexington.  I 
heard  of  it  recently.  He  had  noticed  him  particularly,  though 
Darcy  did  not  remember  him  when  they  met." 

"  It's  no  consequence  !"  said  Mr.  Skillet.  "  You  see,  I  had  pro 
posed  the  trip  to  Scrabbletown,  and  I  felt  sorter  responsible,  so  1 
sot  down  behind  him  and  put  in  my  oar  when  he  got  aground. 
Miss  Harding  would  not  tell  what  relation  she  was,  though  I  gave 
her  a  hint  or  two.  After  he  got  through  with  his  story  I  took  him 
back  to  the  smoking  car  and  put  him  through  sprouts.  I  asked 
what  he  proposed,  and  he!  he!  ho!  he  didn't  understand  me.  He 
don't  know  good  English,  but  he's  larnin'!  He's  awful  smart. 
Won't  do  to  tell  him  that,  though!  I  haven't  summered  him  and 
wintered  him  yet,  but  there's  mighty  good  stuff  in  him,  by  Gemini !" 

"You  have  been  very  kind  to  him,  Mr.  Skillet,"  said  Tige, 
"  and  my  wife  and  I  have  felt  very  grateful  to  you.  Darcy's  letters 
are  full  of  your  praises." 

"  It's  no  consequence  !"  replied  Mr.  Skillet,  visibly  gratified.  "  I 
jest  nat'rally  froze  to  the  boy  from  the  fust.  Wan't  it  curhis  now, 
that  I  should  pick  him  out  of  all  them  passengers  to  jine  me  on 


198  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

the  committee  to  interview  the  conductor?  Well!  I  found  out  he 
had  no  business,  and  was  going  to  hunt  up  a  place  for  himself, 
without  references,  without  any  knowledge  of  business,  except 
Greek  and  Latin !" 

" He  would  have  left  no  means  untried,"  said  Mr.  Gaston;  "he 
was  resolved  to  find  employment  here." 

"  And  he'd  a'  got  it,"  replied  Mr.  Skillet;  "some  feller  would 
have  been  smart  enough  to  gobble  him  up.  What  the  dickens  do 
you  carry  that  ugly  whelp's  picter  for  f  I  mean  Grey  ?" 

"  I  discovered  that  he  had  some  rascally  scheme,  involving 
Helen  Euthven,  and  I  wished  to  study  his  countenance  a  little." 

"  Helen  Euthven  F  said  Mr.  Skillet,  confused,  "  what  in  thunder 
does  it  all  mean  !  You  said  Miss  Harding's  picter  was  Helen." 

"  Yes.  She  has  changed  her  name,  probably  at  the  instigation 
of  Grey.  She  is  the  daughter  of  my  Father's  partner.  An  orphan. 
with  no  relation  in  the  world." 

"  Don't  know  about  that!"  said  Mr.  Skillet ;  "  if  she  is  the  darter 
of  that  rebbil  Colonel  Euthven,  she  has  some  relations  in  N'Yauk!" 

"Ah,  yes!"  replied  Mr.  Gaston;  "you  mean  Miss  Norman!" 

" No,  I  don't  mean  Miss  Norman!  It's  no  consequence!  Let 
her  set!  I  must  think  it  over  a  little.  Jerusalem!  Who  would 
have  thought  it!" 

Mr.  Skillet  wriggled  about  in  his  seat,  venting  sundry  ejacula 
tions,  and  evidently  much  exercised  by  his  reflections.  He  put  up 
the  carriage  window,  and  as  the  snow  blew  in  he  closed  it  again, 
apologizing  to  Mr.  Gaston  for  exposing  a  Southerner  to  the  wintry 
blast.  When  the  carriage  drove  up  on  the  ferry  boat  Mr.  Skillet 
found  his  voice  again. 

"I  knowed  your  brother  was  named  for  Colonel  Euthven,  for 
he  told  me  so.  But  I  did  not  know  that  he  left  a  family." 

"  Only  this  daughter,"  said  Mr.  Gaston. 

"Did  you  happen  to  know  his  wife?" 

"  Oh,  yes!  She  was  a  most  excellent  lady.  She  died  very  soon 
after  her  husband." 

"  You  didn't  know  her  maiden  name  F 

"  Certainly.    Miss  Delancy." 

"Oh!  Ah!  Yes!"  said  Mr.  Skillet;  "  it's  no  consequence.  Jeru 
salem  !  If  I  hadn't  been  a  blamed  old  fool  I'd  a  knowed  what  made 
me  take  to  the  child;  of  course!" 

"  I'm  afraid  I  don't  understand  you,  Mr.  Skillet,"  said  Gaston. 

"No!  I  s'pose  not.    Jerusalem!    I  can  tell  you  the  story  in  few 


ME.  SKILLETS  PLAN.  199 

words.  Old  Eupert  Norman,  the  grandfather  of  the  lady  at  the 
Fifth  Av'noo,  was  my  fust  boss.  He  raised  me,  in  fact.  When  I 
growed  up  he  .gave  me  a  hint  that  he  had  picked  out  a  wife  for 
me.  It's  no  consequence  I  but  it  was  a  woman  I  couldn't  tackle 
noway!  Jerusalem!  she  had  a  chin  a  mile  long!  But  that  was 
only  a  part  of  the  trouble;  I  had  picked  out  another  for  myself, 
and  her  name  was  Helen  Delancy.  She  was  as  poor  as  git  out,  and 
so  was  I.  She  had  nauthin'  but  her  schooling  and  I  was  gitten 
eight  hundred  dollars  a  year.  Mighty  big  wages  for  them  times, 
too!  There  was  another  fellow  after  the  chin  woman,  who  had 
beans  enough  to  cover  her  chin,  and  she  kind  o'  leaned  to  him,  but 
her  people  wouldn't  hear  of  him.  He  was  a  raal  good  fellow,  and 
told  me  all  his  troubles,  and  I  lent  him  a  hundred  dollars  to  run 
away  with  the  chin  woman.  He  was  a  amiable  cuss,  and  she 
whaled  him  like  blazes  before  thejr  had  been  married  a  month.  Then 
I  persuaded  Helen  to  marry  me  privately,  over  to  Jersey  City.  She 
didn't  tell  even  her  sister,  who  lived  with  an  aunt  in  Lexington, 
and  she  died  the  very  day  Mr.  Euthven  married  his  wife.  Some 
how,  I've  always  hated  even  to  hear  his  name  mentioned.  It's  no 
consequence!"  and  Mr.  Skillet  wiped  away  a  tear  or  two — "but 
I  buried  her  in  Greenwood.  I  wrote  to  Euthven,  and  just  said 
she  was  dead  and  buried,  but  he_had  gone  off  to  Canada  on  his 
wedding  trip,  and  did  not  git  my  letter  for  a  month.  I  never  told 
a  soul  about  my  marriage,  until  to-night,  and  I'm  jest  tellin'  you 
to  let  you  see  that  Helen  Euthven  is  my  niece.  Blood  is  thicker 
nor  water,  and  that's  the  reason  I  took  to  the  child  without  know 
ing  her!" 

"  But  she  is  not  a  blood  relation,"  said  Gaston,who  was  greatly 
interested ;  "  she  is  Mrs.  Skillet's  niece " 

"  Well !"  responded  Mr.  Skillet,  obstinately,  "  don't  the  Scripter 
say  l  bone  of  your  bone,  and  flesh  of  your  flesh  f  She  is  my  bone 
and  flesh  relation,  and  that  is  good  as  blood.  Shers  my  niece,  by 
Gemini !  Here  we  are,  in  Brooklyn.  Driver !  turn  down  to  the 
right !  I'm  goin'  to  take  you  past  the  boardin'-house  where  I  lived. 
It's  next  to  an  old  church,  where  we  both  attended.  When  I  got 
some  beans  of  my  own  I  bought  that  heouse,  and  I  own  it  yet. 
Hello !  what's  that  P 

Two  pistol  shots,  so  close  together  that  they  almost  sounded 
like  one  report.  The  carriage  turned  the  corner. 

"Hi,  driver!"  said  Mr.  Skillet.  "Stop!  Su'thin'  is  up  here! 
There  is  a  man  on  the  sidewalk  !  Hi !  hold  up !"  and  he  scrambled 
out  and  approached  the  prostrate  body,  followed  by  Tige. 


200  FLESH  AND  SPIEIT. 

"  Blood  on  the  snow  !"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  as  he  leaned  over  the 
motionless  form  and  peered  into  the  upturned  face.  "  Ah  !  oh ! 
Mr.  Gaston,  git  into  the  carriage  again,  please,  and  drive  to  the 
second  corner,  and  bring  the  doctor — Doctor  Chase  !  It's  no  con 
sequence  !  You  needn't  stop  to  look  !  Git  out,  please !  Don't 
stand  fooliu'  there  !  You  needn't  look  !" 

"  Oh,  Darcy !"  said  Tige,  falling  on  his  knees  in  the  trampled 
snow.  "  Oh,  my  poor  boy !  Have  I  indeed  only  found  you  to  see 
you  die  !  Oh  !  Mr.  Skillet,  my  place  is  here  ;  go  you  for  the  doc 
tor.  He  is  not  dead  ;  I  feel  a  feeble  pulse.  Oh,  my  brother  !" 

Mr.  Skillet  scrambled  into  the  carriage,  while  Tige  gently  raised 
his  brother's  head  and  rested  it  upon  his  arm.  He  tried  to  take 
the  still  smoking  pistol  from  Darcy's  hand,  but  he  clutched  it  with 
so  firm  a  grip  that  Tige  relinquished  it  after  the  first  effort.  He 
noticed  the  broken  crutch,  and,  under  the  light  of  the  gas  lamp, 
he  saw  two  bloody  fingers  lying  beside  the  splintered  wood.  He 
looked  at  Darcy's  hands  and  found  them  both  uuwounded. 

"  Oh,  yes  !"  murmured  Tige,  "  he  fell  with  his  weapon  in  his 
hand,  and  he  has  maimed  his  murderer  for  life.  The  boy  was  sur 
prised,  or  was  overpowered  by  numbers.  I  would  have  ventured 
him  against  any  solitary  assailant.  Ah  1  here  is  the  carriage  ! 
How  can  I  ever  face  iNell  with  these  dreadful  tidings  F 

The  doctor  was  a  deliberate  old  practitioner,  who  took  all  sorts 
of  events  with  unshaken  coolness.  He  touched  Darcy's  wrist, 
lifted  one  eyelid,  felt  his  face,  lifted  the  pistol  arm,  and,  with  ex 
pert  fingers,  twisted  the  weapon  from  Darcy's  grasp. 

"  Is  he  dead  f '  whispered  Mr.  Skillet. 

"  Certainly  not !  I  must  get  him  into  the  light.  Where  shall 
we  take  him,  Mr.  Skillet  ?" 

"  Eight  here  !"  responded  Mr.  Skillet.  "  Mrs.  Baker ;  boardin'- 
heouse  ;  there's  a  paper  on  the  door :  '  Eooms  to  let ' — hold  on  ! 
I'll  ring." 

"  I  am  afraid  to  ask  a  question,  Doctor,"  said  Tige,  plaintively ; 
"  he  is  my  only  brother  1" 

"  I  could  not  answer  you,  my  dear  sir,  if  you  did,"  replied  the 
doctor ;  "  there  is  a  good  deal  of  life  in  him  yet.  I  can  tell  you 
better  when  we  get  him  into  the  light." 

"  My  compliments  to  Mrs.  Baker !"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  as  the  door 
opened — "  Mr.  Skillet's  compliments — and  tell  her  I  want  the  best 
room  in  the  heouse !" 

"  Mrs.  Baker  has  gone  to  bed,  sir  !"  said  the  frightened  servant. 


ME.  SKILLETS  PLAN.  201 

"  All  right !  It's  110  consequence !  Jest  go  holler  at  her  door 
that  Mr.  Skillet  wants  a  room  !" 

The  girl  attempted  to  close  the  street  door,  but  Mr.  Skillet 
kicked  it  wide  open  and  entered  the  hall. 

"  If  you  don't  go  for  your  missus  !"  said  he  to  the  domestic,  who 
recoiled  as  he  approached,  "  cuss  me,  if  there  won't  be  a  funeral 
issuing  out'n  your  room  to-morrow  mornin  !  d'ye  hear !  Git  out 
then !" 

The  servant  fled,  and  Mr.  Skillet  ran  down  the  steps  and  assisted 
Tige  and  the  doctor  as  they  raised  Darcy  from  the  pavement. 
They  carried  him  into  the  hall,  and  to  the  foot  of  the  stair-case. 
Mrs.  Baker  appeared  at  the  head  at  the  same  moment. 

"  I've  got  no  rooms !"  she  screamed,  "  and  I  don't  know  any 
Mr.  Kittle!" 

"  It's  me,  Mrs.  Baker,"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  "  I've  a  friend  here  who 
has  got  hurted,  and  I  must  have  a  room." 

"  Oh  !  Mr.  Skillet !  I  beg  your  pardon,  sir  !  Bridget  said  Mr. 
Kittle.  First  floor,  sir ;  front  room.  Bridget,  light  the  gas  !" 

While  the  doctor  was  examining  the  wound  in  Darcy's  breast, 
Mr.  Skillet  discovered  another  on  his  head.  The  doctor  took  a 
small  book  from  Darcy's  bosom,  bound  in  tortoise-shell.  The  bul 
let  had  gone  through  both  covers,  splintering  the  shell  into  a  hun 
dred  pieces,  and  had  entered  his  breast.  The  doctor  cut  away 
waistcoat  and  shirt,  turned  him  half  over,  and  found  the  bullet 
under  the  shoulder  blade. 

"  The  book  saved  him  !"  said  the  doctor.  "  It  deflected  the 
ball,  which  has  not  entered  the  ribs.  See  !  It  ran  round  under 
the  muscles,  and  came  out  here.  And  now  for  the  other  hurt." 

After  an  examination  that  lasted  five  minutes,  but  which 
seemed  to  Tige  to  be  five  hours,  the  doctor  arose,  went  to  the 
basin  and  washed  his  hands. 

"The  hurts  are  serious,  gentlemen,  but  not  necessarily  fatal. 
With  youth  and  a  sound  constitution  on  his  side,  I  think  good 
nursing  will  bring  him  through  !" 

"  And  I'll  carry  out  my  plan,  by  Gemini !"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  in 
a  whisper  to  Tige. 

"What  plan,  Mr.  Skillet F 

"  None  of  your  business,  by  Gemini !  But  keep  your  mouth 
shet,  please,  and  leave  it  to  me ;  I'll  manoeuvre  him  !" 


202  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

CHAPTER  XLII. 

THE  BED  SPOTS  IN  THE  SNOW. 

THE  wounds  in  Darcy's  breast  and  back  were  speedily  dressed, 
after  Doctor  Chase  had  carefully  followed  the  track  of  the 
bullet,  and  satisfied  himself  that  no  serious  damage  had  resulted 
from  the  pistol  shot.  But  there  were  two  separate  wounds  on  his 
head ;  one  over  the  eye,  and  the  other  on  the  side  just  above  the  ear. 
Mr.  Bloke  struck  him  with  the  top  of  the  crutch,  and  the  trans 
verse  piece  had  evidently  inflicted  the  more  serious  hurt,  which 
would  have  been  instantly  fatal,  if  the  force  of  the  blow  had  not 
been  divided  between  the  two  wounds,  and  if  his  hat  had  not 
somewhat  defended  his  head.  After  nearly  an  hour's  skilful 
manipulation,  Doctor  Chase  announced  that  he  had  done  all  that 
was  possible,  and  that  there  was  no  immediate  danger. 

"  He  will  be  conscious  presently,"  said  the  Doctor;  "  his  pulses 
are  improving.  Keep  the  room  dark,  and  keep  him  quiet  as  pos 
sible.  I  will  return  at  daylight.  Goodnight." 

"  My  dear  Mr.  Skillet,"  said  Tige,  "  will  you  please  return  to  the 
hotel,  and  bring  Mrs.  Gastou  f 

"  Not  much  !"  replied  Mr.  Skillet,  emphatically.  "  Do  you  s'pose 
I'm  made  outeu  stun  I  It's  pooty  bad  cheese,  to  see  Dassy  a 
layin'  there  so  quiet ;  but  it's  a  sight  wuss  to  face  the  women  with 
such  a  story.  Go  yourself !  You're  no  use  here.  I'll  stay  till 
you  git  back." 

"But,  Mr.  Skillet " 

"  Go  about  your  business,  please !  Don't  you  see  he's  goin'  to 
wake  presently  '?  Now  if  he  sees  you  here,  he'll  git  excited,  but 
he  won't  mind  me.  You'd  better  git  out." 

"  That  is  true,"  answered  Gaston  ;  "  you  are  always  right,  Mr. 
Skillet." 

"  Most  generally,"  acquiesced  Mr.  Skillet. 

"  I  will  go  back,  then.  Eleven  o'clock.  Oh,  Mr.  Skillet,  I  can 
not  thank  you  as  I  ought  for  your  kindness " 

"  It's  no  consequence !  Please  to  git  out !  And  don't  slam  the 
door  after  you.  And  if  you  bring  any  women  back  with  you,  tell 
'em  to  do  their  howlin'  in  the  carriage!  We  hadn't  ought  to 
have  any  fuss  here.  Hist !  Git  out !" 

Mr.  Skillet  drew  his  chair  to  the  bedside,  and  took  Darcy's 
hand  in  his.  The  old  gentleman  had  repressed  his  own  feelings 


THE  RED  SPOTS  IN  THE  SNOW.  203 

while  Tige  was  present ;  but  when  left  alone  with  the  young  man, 
he  quietly  let  some  tears  drop  out  of  his  blue  eyes.  There  had  grown 
up  between  these  two  a  far  stronger  frieudship-than  either  of  them 
dreamed  of.  Darcy  was  so  outspoken  and  loyal,  that  his  em 
ployer  believed  in  him  implicitly,  and  daily  studied  his  straight 
forward,  manly  character,  with  increasing  admiration.  On  the 
other  hand,  Darcy  had  recognized  the  substratum  of  genuine 
kindness,  underlying  the  rough  exterior,  and  admired  the  shrewd 
practical  wisdom  of  Mr.  Skillet's  business  maxims,  as  he  saw  their 
application  day  by  day. 

14  Brother  Tige !"  murmured  Darcy,  "  I  can't  see  you,  but  you 
are  here." 

"Keep  your  mouth  shet,  please,"-  whispered  Mr.  Skillet,  in 
reply.  "  It's  me.  It's  no  consequence  about  Brother  Tige  jest 
now." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  Darcy,  obediently  j  "  but  Helen !  Helen  1" 

"  Ya-as  P  said  Mr.  Skillet,  "it's  all  right.  Let  her  set.  Ill 
attend  to  her.  She's  all  right.  Don't  bother  your  brains  about 
her.  The  Doctor  says  you  must  keep  quiet.  You've  sorter  had  a 
fall,  but  it's  no  consequence,  if  you  jest  keep  still." 

Darcy  lay  still,  with  his  eyes  closed.  The  gas  was  turned  down, 
and  Mr.  Skillet,  who  kept  his  hand,  could  feel  the  nervous  twitch 
ing  of  his  fingers,  but  could  not  see  his  face. 

"  You  may  ask  me  one  question,"  he  said,  "  if  you  will  be  still 
afterwards." 

"Helen!" 

"  She's  all  right !     I'll  send  for  her  in  the  mornin' " 

"  No,  no !"  replied  Darcy ;  "  don't  send.  But  see  that  he  don't 
find  her.  I  mean  the  devil." 

"He's  a  tolerably  hard  customer  to  stave  off !"  muttered  Mr. 
Skillet ;  "  but  we'll  manosuvre  him.  Don't  distress  yourself  about 
him." 

There  was  another  long  silence,  and  Darcy  apparently  slept. 
Mr.  Skillet  mentally  swore  at  the  doctor  for  leaving  the  case,  but 
uttered  no  sound.  The  street  was  very  quiet,  and  the  watcher 
could  hear  the  tinkle  of  the  bells,  as  a  horse  car  passed  the  corner 
below.  Then  he  heard  midnight  announced  from  a  steeple  four 
or  five  squares  distant. 

"  I  say !"  whispered  Darcy,  suddenly  j  "  there  were  two  of  them, 
you  know  ?" 

"  Oh,  ya-as !  certainly !"  replied  Mr.  Skillet. 

"  Two  devils." 


204  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

"  Ya-as !  I  know  more  'n  two  hundred  myself.  But  it's  no  con 
sequence.  We'll  manoeuvre  'em." 

Asleep  again.  Mr.  Skillet  felt  Darcy's  wrist.  The  blood  was 
bounding  through  its  appointed  channels  with  steady  regularity, 
but  Mr.  Skillet  thought  the  pulses  too  strong  for  the  circumstan 
ces.  Fever  coming  on,  no  doubt. 

Tige  had  taken  a  latchkey  with  him,  and  while  Mr.  Skillet  was 
debating  with  himself  as  to  the  best  way  to  recall  that  cussed 
doctor,  the  door  opened  gently,  and  Mr.  Gaston  and  his  wife 
stole  softly  into  the  room.  Mrs.  Gaston  deposited  her  bonnet  and 
wrappings  on  the  lounge,  and  then  motioning  Mr.  Skillet  aside, 
quietty  took  possession  of  his  chair.  There  was  a  business-like 
air  about  all  her  movements  that  awed  the  old  gentleman,  and  he 
retired  into  the  hall,  beckoning  Tige  after  him. 

"  She's  a  hull  team,  she  is !"  he  whispered ;  "  I  guess  we'd 
better  let  her  manosuvre  him  now.  He  has  been  talking." 

"  Has  he  f  said  Tige,  excitedly. 

"  Ya-as  !  It  wan't  much,  though.  He  fust  called  for  brother 
Tige." 

"  Did  he  !    I'll  go  to  him  now." 

"Not  much  1"  replied  Mr.  Skillet;  "he  is  sleeping  agin,  and 
anyway  he  pooty  soon  quit  you,  and  went  for  Helen.  Didn't  stay 
long  there  either.  Then  he  went  for  the  devil." 

"  His  mind  was  wandering,"  said  Tige. 

"  Mebbe  so !"  said  Mr.  Skillet ;  "  but  he  seemed  tolerably  level 
too!  He  said  the  devil  was  after  Helen.  Then  he  said  there  was 
two  devils,  and  I  knowed  he  was  right.  Then  he  dropped  off  to 
sleep  agin." 

"  Now,  Mr.  Skillet,"  said  Tige,  "  I  insist  upon  one  thing !  You 
must  have  some  sleep !  Can  you  sleep  here,  or  will  you  take  the 
carriage,  which  waits  at  the  corner,  and  go  back  to  New  York  ?" 

"  Will  you  mind  your  business,  please  !"  replied  Mr.  Skillet ; 
"  I  am  not  going  away  from  here  till  Dassy  is  up!  There !  You 
and  your  wife  have  been  travelling  and  you'd  better  go  to  bed  ! 
I'd  rather  set  up  as  not!" 

"  Well,  if  you  won't  go,  I'll  dismiss  the  carriage.  I  will  return 
in  a  minute." 

But  he  was  gone  several  minutes,  and  when  he  returned,  there 
was  a  look  of  grim  ferocity  on  his  amiable  visage,  that  startled 
Mr.  Skillet.  Tige  beckoned  him  out  in  the  hall. 

"  When  I  had  sent  away  the  carriage,"  said  Tige,  "  I  stopped 


THE  RED  SPOTS  IN  THE  SNOW.  205 

to  look  at  the  bloody  snow  on  the  corner.  I  found  some  drops  on 
the  sidewalk  near  the  church  railing.  Then  I  saw  the  drops  fol 
lowing  footprints  through  a  narrow  alley,  between  this  house  and 
the  church.  I  followed  the  tracks,  finding  blood  drops  occasion- 
alty,  but  footprints  in  the  snow  until  I  reached  the  house  where 
they  ceased.  The  door  plate  bears  the  name  of  Doctor  Lamis." 

"  Why  he's  the  spiritooal  hound,"  said  Mr.  Skillet ;  "  plenty  of 
fools  in  X'Yauk  and  Brooklyn.  He  is  coining  money." 

"  Yes,"  replied  Tige  ;  "  but  I  happen  to  know  who  lives  with 
him." 

"  Indeed !" 

"  Yes.  It  is  the  present  habitation  of  Mr.  Eupert  Grey.  And 
Mr.  Grey  has  attempted  murder,  if  he  has  not  succeeded.  And 
I  intend  to  have  a  settlement!" 

"D'ye  mean  fightP  said  Mr.  Skillet. 

"  It  depends  ;"  replied  Tige ;  "  I  intend  to  see  that  he  does  not 
escape.  If  the  law  cannot  reach  the  case,  I  will  take  it  in  hand. 
The  man  who  harms  Darcy  Gastou  puts  his  life  in  peril,  if  I  can 
reach  him." 

"  Fightin'  is  a  bad  business,"  observed  Mr.  Skillet,  shaking  his 
head  j  "  still,  if  it  must  be  done,  the  sooner  the  better.  Let's  go 
round  there  now,  and  shake  up  the  heouse !  By  Gemini !  I'll 
take  a  hand,  if  the  game  ain't  fall  already !" 

"  We  must  get  policemen,"  said  Tige,  "and  let  them  watch  the 
house." 

"  Policemen  !"  answered  Mr.  Skillet,  "  Oh,  Jerusalem  !" 

"  But  we  must  keep  within  the  law,"  insisted  Tige ;  "  if  we  get 
the  police  force  on  the  track  of  this  murderer,  we  can  watch  also, 
if  necessary." 

"  Brother  Tige,"  murmured  Darcy. 

"  I  am  here,  Darcy,  bojM"  answered  Tige,  rushing  to  the  bedside, 
and  taking  Darcy's  hand. 

"  I  can't  see  you,  Brother.    Sister  Nell,  you  are  here  also  ?" 

"  Yes,"  whispered  Nell ;  "  but  you  had  better  keep  quiet,  Darcy. 
To-morrow  we  will  talk." 

"Helen,  brother!  Save  Helen!" 

"  She  is  safe,  Darcy.  Compose  your  mind  and  go  to  sleep 
again.  I  know  where  to  find  your  assailant.  He  shall  not 
escape." 

"  Let  him  go,  Brother  !  I  charge  you.  If  he  will  go,  let  him 
escape.  Has  he  killed  me  ?" 


206  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

"Not  much,"  said  Mr.  Skillet;  "the  Doctor  says  you  are  all 
right.  Don't  talk  any  foolishness  about  killen' !" 

"  Promise  me  one  thing,  Brother,"  said  Darcy,  in  a  tone  of  en 
treaty,  "  Go,  find  Grey,  and  tell  him  to  flee.  If  you  will  do  this, 
I  will  be  quiet." 

"  I  will  do  it,  Darcy." 

"Now,  Brother,  now  !" 

"  Very  well.    I  will  go  at  once." 

"  And  I'll  go  with  you,"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  following  Tige ; 
"  mebbe  it  will  take  two  of  us  to  persuade  him.  Put  on  your 
overcoat.  I'm  all  ready." 

They  walked  out  into  the  quiet  street.  Tige,  confident  in  his 
strength,  thought  of  no  weapons.  With  his  naked  hands  he  could 
tear  the  wretch  to  pieces.  Mr.  Skillet  saw  Darcy's  pistol  on  the 
table,  and  quietly  slipped  it  into  his  pocket.  Did  not  want  to  use 
the  thing,  but  it  was  convenient  to  have  it  about  one.  Might  be 
mad  dogs  or  something  of  the  sort,  in  the  street. 

All  was  dark  and  still  at  the  house  of  Dr.  Lamis.  Mr.  Gaston 
rang  the  bell,  and  the  window  over  the  front  door  was  opened  and 
a  man  looked  out. 

"  Who  is  there  ?"  he  said. 

"  We  want  Mr.  Grey,"  replied  Tige.  "  Let  him  come  down  for  a 
moment." 

"  Who  are  you  ?"  said  the  man. 

"  No  matter.  It  is  of  great  importance  to  Mr.  Grey,  that  we 
should  speak  with  him  instantly.  His  life  may  depend  upon  it." 

"Git  him  out  onto  the  sidewalk,"  whispered  Mr.  Skillet.  "If 
you  shoot  him  inside  the  heouse,  he  can  take  the  law  of  you !" 

"  Mr.  Grey  cannot  come,"  said  the  man  at  the  window.  "  He  is 
dying  or  dead !" 


CHAPTER  XLIII. 
THE  FEIENDS'  PARTING. 

Ql  OMETHING  uncanny  about  Dutchy's  appearance  had  excited 
O  suspicion  in  the  mind  of  the  apothecary,  while  they  were  de 
bating  over  the  bottle  of  strychnine.  Suppose  this  grizzly  looking 
customer  should  happen  to  have  evil  designs  against  some  more 
important  personage  than  a  dorg  ?  And  suppose  the  sale  of  vir- 


THE  FRIENDS'  PARTING.  207 

ulent  poison  should  be  hereafter  traced  to  this  identical  Dispen 
satory  ?  The  young  chemist  shuddered  as  he  estimated  the  pos 
sible  consequences  !  On  the  other  hand,  if  by  the  substitution  of 
some  other  drug,  the  dorg  should  have  his  life  prolonged,  and 
accidentally  happen  to  bite  the  customer,  it  was  an  open  question 
whether  or  not  society  would  be  shaken  to  its  foundations.  He 
would  rather  take  that  risk  anyhow.  So  at  the  last  moment,  he 
deftly  changed  bottles,  and  made  the  two  pills  of  Bi-carbouate  of 
soda. 

Dutchy  waited  a  full  half  hour,  while  he  lay  so  quietly  on  the 
lounge,  to  see  the  effect  of  the  deadly  pills.  His  knowledge  on 
the  general  subject  was  limited,  and  he  expected  to-  see  his  patron 
fall  suddenly  into  convulsions,  grow  black  in  the  face,  and  then 
expire. 

Instead  of  meeting  these  reasonable  expectations,  Mr.  Grey 
arose  with  a  yawn,  and  announced  his  intention  of  seeking  tired 
Nature's  sweet  restorer,  if  Mr.  Bloke  would  have  the  goodness  to 
retire. 

Dutchy  arose  also,  a  portentous  gloom  gathering  upon  his  face. 

"  Give  me  what  money  you're  goiii'  to  give,  Boss  !"  said  he ;  "I 
arn't  goiii'  to  risk  my  neck  in  this  town." 

"  Where  will  you  go,  Bloke  I" 

"  Dunuo.    Must  git  up  and  git  outen  here,  though." 

Mr.  Grey  took  out  his  pocket  book,  and  drawing  a  chair  to  the 
table,  sat  down,  and  counted  out  some  money.  He  was  oppressed 
with  a  new  sensation;  a  feeling  of  remorse,  tinged  with  some 
dread  also,  and  his  mind  was  preoccupied.  Dutchy  stood  near 
him,  a  little  behind,  and  watched  the  counting. 

u  How  much,  Boss  ?"  he  said,  in  a  husky  voice. 

"  Fifty  Dollars." 

"  Look  at  them  keards,  Boss,"  said  Dutchy,  suddenly  laying  a 
half  dozen  on  the  table,  face  downwards.  "  I  can  pick  out  all  the 
jacks  and  all  the  aces." 

"  Ah !"  said  Eupert,  coolly,  "  you  are  a  dangerous  man  to  en 
counter,  Mr.  Bloke !" 

"  I  guess  you're  right,  Boss,"  replied  Dutchy  ;  "  but  don't  you 
think  you  could  give  me  back  them  three  hundred  dollars  f 
Them  is  the  same  jacks  and  aces  that  win'd  them  often  me !" 

"  What  the  devil  do  you  mean  !"  said  Rupert,  starting  up  and 
facing  him. 

"This!"  replied  Dutchy,  raising  the  billy,  and  striking  his 
patron  over  his  almond  shaped  eyes. 


208  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

He  caught  him,  as  he  fell  forward,  and  laid  him  gently  on  the 
hearth  rug.  There  was  an  iron  stand,  holding  shovel  and  poker, 
near  his  head,  and  Dutchy  moved  the  body  towards  it,  so  that  the 
round  bar  at  the  base  of  the  stand  was  stained  with  the  blood.  He 
took  the  pocket-book  from  the  relaxing  grasp  of  his  associate, 
gathered  up  the  notes  that  were  counted  out  on  the  table,  and 
then  sat  down  to  consider  the  situation.  First:  Lock  the  door. 

As  he  sat  there,  smoking  a  cigar,  which  he  had  taken  from 
Rupert's  case,  he  recalled  the  circumstances  attending  their  short 
acquaintance.  Grey  had  been  kind  to  him,  on  the  whole.  The 
truth  was — though  Dutchy  never  dreamed  it — that  Rupert  felt 
under  heavy  obligations  to  this  savage  brute,  because  his  body 
had  certainly  saved  him  from  sudden  death,  when  he  fell  upon  it, 
at  their  first  encounter.  And  he  had  been  pleased  with  the  read 
iness  wherewith  Dutchy  evaded  him,  with  lies  of  unusual  pro 
portions,  so  grotesque  in  conception  and  utterance.  And  he 
thought  he  might  be  able  to  utilize  Dutchy's  genius  in  carrying 
out  such  parts  of  his  plans  as  might  require  bull  dog  ferocity  and 
unblushing  effrontery. 

"  He  was  werry  good  to  me,"  thought  Dutchy,  as  he  smoked ; 
"  and  I  didn't  like  to  hit  him.  That  cussed  pison  cost  a  dollar,  and 
wasn't  worth  a  cent!  And  now  I  must  git!  I'll  take  nothin'  of 
hisen  'cept  this  money,  and  I'd  a  won  it  if  he  hadn't  cheated !  So 
it's  as  good  as  mine  anyway.  Guess  I'll  take  his  red  beard,  too. 
He'll  not  want  it !  Cuss  me,  if  I  don't  dress  up  in  his  good 
clothes !" 

He  rummaged  in  the  bureau  and  wardrobe,  and  selected  a  suit, 
which  he  exchanged  for  his  military  rags,  very  rapidly.  He  fitted 
on  the  red  beard  and  the  broad  brimmed  hat.  He  took  a  handful 
of  cigars  and  thrust  them  into  the  pocket  of  his  overcoat,  and 
then  burnt  up  his  own  attire  in  the  grate,  a  few  rags  at  a  time. 
When  they  were  all  consumed,  he  stood  before  the  glass,  and 
practised  the  motions  of  the  arm,  in  removing  the  cigar  from  his 
lips,  in  his  late  patron's  elaborate  fashion. 

"Think  I'll  do!"  muttered  Dutchy.  "Now  for  the  Bowery! 
and  to-morrow,  I'll  take  the  first  train;  there's  a  train  at  two 
o'clock  to-night.  What  a  fool  I  was  to  forget  it.  All  right.  Good 
night,  Boss." 

He  turned  down  the  gas,  unlocked  the  door,  and  passed  down 
stairs.  The  front  door  was  chained  and  barred,  and  he  could  not 
open  it  without  dangerous  noise.  So  he  went  to  the  parlour,  opened 


THE  FZIENDS'  PARTING.  -209 

the  inside  shutters,  raised  the  sash,  and  finding  the  street  quiet, 
dropped  safely  down.  The  policeman  who  had  pulled  aside  the 
red  beard,  early  in  the  evening,  nodded  civilly  to  it  again,  as 
Trinity  steeple  announced  midnight.  The  policeman  remembered 
the  greenback,  that  concluded  the  former  interview  and  gilded  it 
with  the  hue  of  romance.  The  red  whiskers  passed  majestically 
through  Fulton  street,  up  Broadway  to  Chambers  street,  and 
finally  disappeared  in  the  cars  of  the  Hudson  River  Railroad. 

Beneath  these  fictitious  adornments  Dutchy  carried  a  moustache 
of  his  own.  It  was  a  fierce  collection  of  bristles,  of  which  he  was 
rather  vain.  So,  when  he  walked  into  a  barber  shop  in  Albany, 
and  demanded  a  clean  shave,  he  parted  with  the  last  possibility 
of  identification,  as  he  had  preserved  this  pet  growth  through  all 
his  former  disguises.  He  gazed  at  his  image  in  the  glass,  trimmed 
and  brushed,  his  countenance  burnished,  and  his  very  eyebrows 
smoothed,  and  mourned  the  departure  of  his  old  likeness.  At  a 
neighbouring  shop  he  bought  a  hat  with  a  round  top ;  and  all  his 
former  foes,  the  cops  of  ^ew  York,  would  have  passed  him  under 
review,  without  recognition.  Dutchy  was  extinct.  He  bought  a  hair 
brush,  four  paper  collars,  and  a  small  satchel  with  a  gorgeous  strap, 
all  from  the  same  shop,  boldly  paying  with  clean  five  dollar  notes. 
After  a  comfortable  breakfast  he  took  the  western  bound  train,  and 
with  twenty-five  cheap  cigars  in  his  new  satchel  he  disappeared 
from  the  surface  of  the  society  that  had  known  him  hitherto. 

But  while  he  was  crossing  the  East  River,  at  the  beginning  of 
his  journey,  Doctor  Lamis,  who  had  looked  into  Grey's  room  acci 
dentally,  was  horrified  at  the  appearance  of  things  in  that  cosy 
chamber.  Rupert  was  senseless,  and  apparently  dead.  The  Doc 
tor  drew  his  body  under  the  chandelier,  and  in  the  midst  of  his 
examinations  Mr.  Gaston's  summons  called  him  to  the  window. 
After  a  brief  colloquy  he  descended  the  stairs  and  admitted  Mr. 
Skillet  and  Tige,  who  followed  him  to  the  room  above. 

The  blow  had  been  delivered  with  a  vigorous  hand.  The  Doc 
tor  washed  away  the  blood,  and  with  the  assistance  of  Mr.  Gaston, 
placed  Rupert  upon  the  bed.  Tige  furtively  examined  the  two 
limp  hands  and  found  the  usual  complement  of  fingers  on  each. 

"I  am  at  a  loss  to  account  for  this!"  said  Doctor  Lamis ;  "I 
left  him  only  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  ago — no;  it  must  have 
been  near  an  hour — and  he  was  perfectly  well.  His  head  was 
near  the  poker  stand,  and  the  base  of  it  is  bloody.  But  I  cannot 
conceive  how  so  violent  a  fall  was  possible." 

14 


210-  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

"  Was  he  alone  ?"  said  Tige. 

"  No.  Bloke,  that  is  the  lame  soldier,  was  with  him.  Stay !  I 
will  call  him  up  and  question  him."  And  he  left  the  room. 

"He  is  gone  !"  said  the  Doctor,  returning  in  a  minute;  "his 
room  is  empty.  Gentlemen,  I  fear  there  has  been  some  foul  play 
here.  This  soldier  came  in  here  only  two  hours  ago  with  two 
fingers  shot  off.  I  now  believe  Grey  shot  him !  See,  here  is  his 
pistol.  And  after  I  bound  up  his  wounds  I  left  them  here,  evi 
dently  repressing  strong  excitement,  and  the  quarrel  was,  doubt 
less,  renewed,  and  Bloke  inflicted  this  wound !" 

"  You  say  '  his  pistol,' "  observed  Tige,  taking  np  the  weapon  ; 
"  whose  pistol  ?  Bloke's  ?" 

"No;  Grey's,"  replied  the  Doctor.  Tige  put  the  pistol  in  his 
pocket. 

"  Did  he  and  this  soldier  come  in  together  f  asked  Mr.  Gaston. 

"  Yes.  Grey  had  a  latchkey.  They  have  been  together  all  the 
evening.  This  is  a  horrible  calamity.  Hist !  He  is  stirring !" 

"  Go  for  him,  Bloke  !"  muttered  Rupert,  stariug  vacantly  at  the 
three  men. 

"  How  do  you  feel,  Grey  ?"  said  the  Doctor,  starting  forward. 

"  Shaky  !  That  devil  struck  me  with  the  poker,  I  suppose. 
There  is  a  flask  on  the  mantel.  Give  me  a  drop  or  two." 

The  Doctor  poured  out  a  tablespoonful,  diluted  it,  and  raised 
Rupert's  head  while  he  slowly  swallowed  the  liquor. 

"  Who  are  these  gentlemen,  Lamis  I"  whispered  Rupert. 

"  It's  no  consequence !"  replied  Mr.  Skillet ;  "  we  had  a  little 
business  with  you,  but  it  will  keep." 

Rupert,  still  dizzy,  felt  in  his  breast  pocket.    No  pocket-book. 

"  Lamis,  please  look  on  the  floor  and  the  table,"  he  said ;  "  I 
had  my  pocket-book  in  my  hand  when  the  ruffian  struck  me.  Ah! 
you  do  not  find  it.  Gone  !  gone  !  Robbed  and  almost  murdered 
here  in  my  own  room,  by  so  base  a  hound  !  I  must  get  up  and 
hunt  for  him  !" 

"  No  use,  Grey !"  said  the  Doctor ;  "  he  is  out  of  your  reach  by 
this  time.  You  might  as  well  hunt  a  needle  in  a  haystack.  He  is 
across  the  river,  of  course.  To-morrow  we  can  put  detectives  on 
his  track.  But  now  you  must  positively  keep  quiet.  You  have  a 
broken  head  to  nurse." 

"  Pooh  !"  said  Rupert ;  "  it  is  a  hard  knock,  I  know ;  but  I  shall 
be  all  right  in  an  hour.  What  time  is  it  ?  My  watch  is  gone !  Ah ! 
Mr.  Bloke,  you  did  your  business  by  wholesale."  And  he  sat  up 
on  the  bedside. 


A  NEW  RELATION.  211 

"  It  is  the  whisky,  Grey,"  replied  the  Doctor ;  "  and  when  the 
effect  of  the  stimulant  wears  off,  you  will  be  shaky  enough.  Will 
you  be  able  to  undress,  if  we  leave  you  ?  It  is  midnight." 

"  To-morrow  morning,  then,  gentlemen,"  said  Rupert,  "  if  you 
will  excuse  rne  till  then.  Ten  thousand  devils !  How  my  head 
aches." 

When  his  visitors  retired  Mr.  Grey  locked  the  door.  Then  he 
looked  for  his  Derringer.  It  was  gone.  He  listened  to  the  depart 
ing  footsteps  of  the  strangers,  and  when  Lamis  came  up  stairs 
again,  he  asked  him  half  a  dozen  pertinent  questions  about  them 
and  their  inquiries.  Then,  dismissing  the  Doctor  after  he  had 
dressed  his  cracked  crown,  this  iron  willed  man  dressed  himself 
anew,  in  the  best  clothes  Dutch y  had  left  him,  and  at  two  o'clock 
A.  M.  Mr.  Grey  was  in  the  station  at  Cortlandt  street  ferry, 
getting  the  lost  passenger's  baggage,  for  which  he  produced  the 
check,  and  having  it  rechecked  for  Washington,  District  of 
Columbia. 


CHAPTER    XLIV. 

A  NEW  RELATION. 

DARCY  was  awake  and  quite  composed  when  his  brother  re 
turned  with  Mr.  Skillet.  Tige,  assisted  by  sundry  ejacula- 
tory  amendments  by  Mr.  Skillet,  recounted  the  interview  with  Grey 
and  Doctor  Lamis. 

"  I  found  two  fingers  where  you  had  fallen,  Darcy,"  said  Tige ; 
"  did  you  shoot  ?" 

"  Yes.  I  shot  the  lame  soldier ;  I  thought  I  had  certainly  killed 
him.  He  had  his  crutch  uplifted  to  strike.  That  is  all  I  know 
until  I  heard  your  voice." 

"  And  the  other — I  mean  Grey  F 

"  I  had  my  left  hand  on  his  throat ;  then  I  fell." 

"  But  what  did  Grey  do  F 

"  I  am  not  certain,"  said  Darcy,  reluctantly ;  "  get  him  away 
and  I  will  recall-  the  circumstances  to-morrow.  Will  he  be  able 
to  travel  to-morrow  ?" 

"  This  murdering  villain  shot  you,  Darcy !"  said  Tige.  "  You 
know  he  did.  Why  do  you  try  to  screen  him  ?  You  would  not 
be  alive  now  if  this  little  book  had  not  been  in  your  bosom." 


212  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

"  Ha  !"  said  Darcy,  "  the  book  !  She  took  away  my  weapon 
and  shielded  me  with  the  Gospel  of  Peace!" 

"  It's  no  consequence  !"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  fidgeting  in  his  chair, 
thinking  Darcy  was  becoming  incoherent  again.  "  You'd  better 
shet  your  mouth  now,  and  go  to  sleep  !  Come,  Mr.  Gaston !  Mrs. 
Baker  says  we  can  have  this  next  room.  Mrs.  Gaston  won't  go,  I 
know !" 

"  Not  I !"  said  Nell.  "  1  slept  three  hours  in  the  cars.  I  am 
going  to  stay  with  Darcy  until  daylight.  Go,  Tige  !  I'll  make  him 
go  to  sleep  when  you  are  gone." 

"  Brother  Tige !"  said  Darcy,  "  will  you  see  Grey  early  to-mor 
row,  and  send  him  away  ?  Tell  him  I  will  charge  him  with  assault 
with  intent  to  kill,  as  soon  as  I  am  able  to  walk  !  No  safety  for 
him  on  this  Continent!  And,  brother,  if  he  has  not  enough  money 
to  get  away,  give  him  what  is  necessary;  everything  depends 
upon  his  escape  !" 

"  Be  content,  Darcy,"  answered  Tige,  "  it  shall  be  as  you  wish  j 
but  if  he  will  not  go  f 

"  Then  you  won't  mind  killing  him,  brother  !  He  ought  to  die, 
on  many  accounts ;  but  I  cannot  harm  him." 

"  Well,"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  "  it  seems  to  me  that  you  are  level  at 
one  minnit  and  mad  as  a  March  hare  the  next.  But  Gosh  and 
Gemini!  you'll  talk  all  night  if  we  stay.  Git  out,  please,  Mr.  Gas- 
ton  !  Good  night,  Mrs.  Gaston.  You  can  call  if  you  need  us ; 
only  the  next  room." 

"  Now  Darcy,  boy,"  said  his  sister,  when  the  gentlemen  retired, 
"  you  must  go  to  sleep.  I  promised  for  you." 

"  Sister  Nell,"  answered  Darcy,  "  push  the  lounge  up  here. 
Take  one  of  these  pillows  and  lie  down  there.  As  soon  as  you  are 
quiet,  I  will  go  to  sleep  if  I  can  ;  there  is  no  need  to  watch  me." 

Doctor  Chase's  examination  the  next  morning  resulted  in  blind 
ing  the  patient,  by  covering  his  eyes  with  a  multitude  of  band 
ages.  The  eye  was  hurt,  and  the  cautious  surgeon  feared  inflam 
mation.  The  other  wounds  were  doing  well,  and  if  he  kept  dark 
and  quiet  another  day,  and  if  no  new  symptoms  appeared,  he 
might  sit  up  the  next.  Better  not  talk  much,  especially  upon  ex 
citing  topics  ;  somebody  might  read  the  paper  to  him.  Tea  and 
toast,  and,  if  he  desired  it,  ice  cream. 

"  How  much  ice  cream,  doctor  F  murmured  Darcy. 

"  How  much  do  you  want  V 

"  A  gallon." 


A  NEW  RELATION.  213 

"  Very  well.  You  had  better  take  half  a  pint  at  a  time — say  at 
intervals  of  three  hours.  This  gentleman  is  certainly  a  Southerner," 
he  continued  to  Mrs.  Gaston  ;  "  all  Southerners  are  the  old  boy  on 
ice  cream!  It  is  terribly  poor  stuff,  too,  but  it  is  harmless!  Let 
him  have  it.  And  I  think  I  may  say  he  is  doing  well.  You  need 
not  apprehend  serious  consequences.  The  eye  is  the  only  trouble, 
and  darkness  is  the  best  treatment.  Good  morning !" 

When  Tige  awoke,  at  eight  o'clock,  Mr.  Skillet  informed  him 
that  he  had  already  been  round  "  to  see  that  spiritooal  cuss,"  and 
that  Mr.  Grey  had  disappeared  during  the  night.  The  old  gen 
tleman  had  left  Mr.  Gaston  asleep  and  greeted  him  with  this 
intelligence  as  soon  as  he  opened  his  eyes. 

"  He  was  too  smart,  for  us,  Mr.  Gastou !"  said  he.  "  He  seed 
you  was  a  lawyer ;  could  tell  you  by  the  cut  of  your  jib  !  and  he 
concluded  it  wau't  best  to  stay.  And  I  think  his  head  was  level 
on  that  p'int.  Blast  his  picter !  And  now  let's  git  some  break 
fast.  Mrs.  Baker  has  the  best  coffee  in  Brooklyn." 

After  the  morning  meal,  Mr.  Skillet  watched  Darcy  fifteen  min 
utes,  while  Mrs.  Gaston  fed  him  on  ice  cream.  Then  he  went  to 
Mrs.  Brace's,  hunting  for  his  niece. 

"  Put  on  your  overshoes !"  he  said,  as  soon  as  she  appeared. 
"Fine  bright  morum',  but  snow  on  the  ground.  Git  on  your 
wraps,  and  come  out !  I've  su'thin  to  tell  you." 

"Oh,  Mr.  Skillet,"  said  Helen,  "please  excuse  me.  I  don't 
want  to  go  out ;  I'm  afraid." 

"Afraid  of  that  Grey  devil  !"  said  Mr.  Skillet.  .  "It's  no  conse 
quence  ;  he'll  not  trouble  you.  He's  off,  with  the  law  after  him. 
Come  out,  and  I'll  tell  you  all  about  it." 

Helen  took  his  arm,  as  they  emerged  into  the  crisp  morning  air, 
wondering  what  strange  revelations  were  coming. 

"  How  much  can  you  stand  ?"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  eyeing  her  curi 
ously.  "  You  always  seemed  to  have  plenty  of  grit.  But  I've  got 
two  or  three  things  to  tell  you  that  will  surprise  you — mebbe  shock 
you,  too  !  I  duuno!  It's  hard  to  tell  how  you'll  take  it." 

"  Do  not  fear  for  me,  Mr.  Skillet,"  answered  Helen,  "  I  am  so 
unhappy  that  no  new  misfortune  can  terrify  me." 

"  Indeed !"  said  Mr.  Skillet;  "well,  one  misfortune  at  a  time. 
Your  name  is  Helen  Euthven,  and  your  mother's  name  was 
Delancy." 

Helen  looked  at  him  in  terror. 

"Don't  be  skeart,  child!    That  ain't  the  wust  of  it.    Your 


214  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

mother  had  a  sister,  Helen  Delancy.  She  was  privately  married. 
She  died  before  you  was  born.  But  her  husband  is  your  uncle,  I 
calkilate." 

if  Yes,  sir." 

"  And  you  are  holdin'  on  to  that  uncle's  arm  this  minnit.  There ! ' 
Now  is  your  time  to  faint !  How  do  you  like  findiu'  an  old  uncle 
like  me  ?  Tell  the  truth,  child  !" 

"  Oh,  uncle!"  said  Helen,  turning  swimming  eyes  upon  him. 

"  Ah,  well !  Don't  turn  on  the  waterspout  jest  yet.  You'll 
want  all  the  tears  you've  got  direckly.  I  felt  a  drawiu'  to  you, 
child,  from  the  fust.  And  all  I've  got  to  say  is,  that  my  heouse  is 
yourn.  And  you  will  comfort  the  few  remaining  days  of  your  old 
uncle  if  you  will  jest  come  and  live  all  over  it.  Three-story  brown 
stone  front,  English  basement,  gas  and  water  all  over  the  heouse, 
and  stationary  tubs  in  the  basement." 

"  Dear  uncle,"  said  Helen,  "  I  will  do  whatever  you  bid  me. 
But  tell  me  how  you  learned  all  this.  Did  Mr.  Gaston  tell  you  my 
real  name  ?" 

"  Ya-as.  Stop  here,  Helen.  I  attended  church  here  with  your 
Aunt  Helen,  twenty  years  ago ;  and  we  lived  to  that  house." 

"  Uncle,  there  is  blood  on  the  snow !" 

"  Ya-as !  There  was  a  scrimmage  here  last  night.  Nobody  got 
killed,  though.  Remember  that.  Do  you  mind  heariu'  about  it  ?" 

"  I  am  anxious  to  hear.  Don't  fear  to  tell  me,  uncle.  I  won't 
faint,  or  cry  out." 

"Wa-al,  you're  true  grit,  child!"  said  Mr.  Skillet;  "I  allus  said 
so.  It  makes  me  feel  warm  all  over  to  hear  you  call  me  uncle. 
It's  cur'ous  now,  but  my  two  nieces  at  the  Institoot,  who  are  niy 
own  brother's  children,  don't  seem  as  near  to  me  as  you  do.  But 
s'pose  I  was  to  tell  you  that  somebody — me,  for  instance,  was  in 
that  scuffle,  and  got  hurt " 

"  But  I  see  you  alive  and  well." 

"  It's  no  consequence.  I'll  break  it  by  degrees.  There  is  a 
young  man  that  came  here  to  Brooklyn  last  night,  to  visit  a  lady ; 
and  he  had  been  followed  by  an  ugly  cuss  from  N'Yauk ;  and  I 
s'pose  the  ugly  cuss  was  layin'  in  wait  for  him,  and  found  him 
here.  And  they  had  some  words " 

"Oh,  uncle!"  said  Helen,  clinging  to  his  arm,  while  the  color 
forsook  her  cheeks. 

"  There,  there  !"  said  her  uncle ;  "  I  knowed  you  would  go  off. 
Nobody  killed,  I  tell  you.  But  one  of  'em  got  hurt  some ;  and  we 


A  NEW  RELATION.  215 

took  him  right  ill  there,  to  Mrs.  Baker's,  number  twenty-nine,  and 
he's  there  now.  And  the  doctor  says  he's  all  right,  if  we  keep  the 
room  dark  a  day  or  two.  His  brother  and  sister  are  with  him 
this  ininnit.  Come  all  the  way  from  Kentucky  to  see  him.  There!" 

"  Was  it  Mr.  Gaston,  uncle !  Ah  !  I  see  it  was.  He  came  to 
see  me  last  night.  And  Mr.  Henry  Gaston  is  here  F 

"  Eight  here  !  We'll  go  in  and  see  him.  There  was  some 
shoot  in'  done  last  night,  but  nobody  killed.  Dassy  had  a  little 
book  in  his  pocket,  with  a  hard  back  onto  it,  and  it  turned  the 
bullet.  That's  all  the  story,  child,  and  every  word  is  true." 

"  Did  he  know  the  man  ?"  said  Helen,  eagerly. 

UI  guess  he  did.  It  was  a  fellow  that  was  supposed  to  be 
dead.  Ah,  Helen !  When  I  asked  you  before  about  that  devil, 
Grey,  I  did  not  know  I  was  your  uncle.  But  now  you  will  tell 
ine.  Dassy  knew,  and  Dassy  said  he  could  not  shoot  him,  because 
you  disarmed  him.  And  when  Dassy  come  to  last  night,  the  first 
words  he  said  were :  i  Tige,  go  tell  Grey  to  escape  !'  And  the 
next  words  were  :  'Tige,  save  Helen!'  What  in  the  dickens  are 
you  crying  about  I  It's  no  consequence,  I  tell  you.  Nobody  got 
killed." 

"  I  will  tell  you  everything,  uncle.  Oh,  wretched  woman  that  I 
am  !  How  can  I  ever  explain  my  folly  and  my  wickedness !" 

"  Never  mind,  Helen,"  said  Mr.  Skillet ;  "  don't  tell  me  a  word. 
I  don't  crave  to  know.  The  devil's  gone.  Let  him  set." 

"  But  I  must  tell  you,  uncle.  Nobody  but  you  can  deliver  me 
.from  that  wretch.  And  you  and  Mr.  Gaston  can  do  it,  I  am  sure. 
I  will  endure  all  the  shame  and  contempt.  Oh,  how  I  despise 
myself!  But  I  will  tell  the  truth,  and  all  of  it." 

"  That's  allus  safe,  child.  Come  in.  We'll  find  Mr.  Gastou  in 
two  minnits.  Thefe  is  his  wife  at  the  window  now,  holdiu'  her 
arms  out  to  you.  Gemini  !  but  she's  a  stunner!" 

The  extended  arms  caught  the  weeping  girl  and  drew  her  into 
the  house  as  soon  as  Mr.  Skillet  opened  the  door.  Kind,  loving 
Nell  Gaston  was  sister,  mother,  friend — everything.  She  kissed 
away  the  tears,  laughing  with  delight  and  thankfulness. 

"  Don't  cry,  my  darling  1"  said  Nell,  "  but  help  us  all  to  rejoice. 
We  thought  our  boy  was  killed.  But  he  is  safe  and  getting  well. 
And  we  have  found  you,  my  poor  child!  Oh,  how  could  you 
leave  us  in  ignorance  of  your  fate  so  long  ?  Tige  went  to  Chicago 
to  look  for  you,  and  we  have  been  so  unhappy  about  you.  Here, 
Tige !  Mr.  Gastou  !" 


216  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

Her  husband  came  in  answer  to  her  summons,  and  greeted 
Helen,  his  handsome  face  covered  with  cheerful  smiles. 

"  My  dear  Miss  Helen,"  he  said,  "things  are  not  so  bad  as  you 
think.  I  can  promise  you  deliverance  from  all  that  troubles  you. 
Darcy  is  sleeping,  wife.  Come,  Mr.  Skillet ;  come,  Miss  Helen ; 
let  us  all  go  into  this  room,  and  exchange  stories.  You  shall  tell 
the  first,  and  I  will  follow.  We  can  hear  Darcy  if  he  wakes. 
Begin,  Miss  Helen." 


CHAPTEE  XLY. 
HELEN'S    STORY. 

6  *  ~TT  is  not  possible  to  tell  you,  dear  friends,  how  I  shrink  from 

-L    the  task  you  have  set  me." 

Tige  took  her  hand  in  his,  and  Nell,  passing  her  plump  arm 
around  Helen's  slender  waist,  •  drew  her  head  down  upon  her 
shoulder. 

"  You  should  know,  first,"  resumed  Helen,  "  that  my  life  at  Mrs. 
Crowder's  was  one  long  misery.  I  did  not  appreciate  my  orphan 
hood  in  Lexington,  because  everywhere  I  met  with  ready  sympa 
thy  and  kindness.  My  only  trouble  was  in  resisting  the  gentle 
charities  that  were  offered  me.  You  know,  Mr.  Gaston,  that  you 
came  to  take  me  to  your  house,  pretending  you  owed  my  poor 
father  money.  Dr.  Graves  was  eager  and  earnest  in  his  invita-. 
tioiis  to  make  my  future  home  with  him  and  his  children.  Judge 
Hammond  sent  his  carriage,  with  peremptory  orders  to  his  coach 
man  not  to  return  without  me.  So,  when  I  crossed  the  river  with 
Mrs.  Crowder,  I  felt  that  I  was  leaving  everything  that  I  loved  in 
the  world,  and  thenceforth  could  expect  nothing  beyond  the 
mere  human  interest  of  mere  strangers. 

"  But  I  did  not  know  how  bad  it  was.  Although  I  worked  as 
well  as  I  could,  Mrs.  Crowder  contrived  to  remind  me  constantly 
that  I  did  not  nearly  earn  the  little  sum  she  paid  me.  I  was 
ostensibly  the  teacher  of  her  children,  but  the  time  spent  in  hear 
ing  recitations  and  in  directing  their  studies  was  the  only  time  in 
which  I  rested.  She  apparently  had  long  arrears  of  work  to 
gather  up,  and  I  was  really  her  seamstress.  I  do  not  complain  of 
this,  however,  and  it  may  be  true  that  the  small  wages  she  paid 
me  more  than  equalled  the  value  of  my  work.  But  the  constant 


HELENS  STORY.  217 

pressure  of  her  piety  makes  me  shudder  when  I  think  of  it.  There 
was  something  ghastly  about  it.  Always  pronounced  and  always 
ghastly.  The  earth  was  one  vast  cemetery,  and  the  joys  of  life 
one  combined  delusion.  She  required  me  to  attend  her  church, 
where  I  sympathized  with  nothing  I  heard,  except  the  brief  portion 
of  Scripture  that  was  read  or  quoted.  She  required  me  to  read 
some  printed  sermons,  called  "  Lies  for  To-morrow,"  preached  by 
Professor  Hang,  and  I,  who  had  been  so  carefully  instructed  in 
theology,  was  less  horrified  by  the  profaneness  of  the  heresy  he 
taught  than  by  his  sickening  emptiness  of  matter,  and  pretension 
of  style.  But  she  made  the  book  a  text  book  for  her  children,  and 
when  my  conscience  compelled  me  to  dissent  from  his  conclusions 
she  severely  lectured  me  for  my  presumption,  and  that  before  my 
pupils. 

"  Mr.  Crowder  spent  his  life  in  hunting  for  disagreeable  things 
to  say.  I  am  sure  I  never  heard  him  utter  one  sentence  to  his 
family  that  had  not  a  sting  in  it.  And  the  three  girls  I  professed 
to  instruct  were  worthy  children  of  these  parents.  I  am  ashamed 
to  say  these  things  of  a  household  where  I  was  fed  and  sheltered 
so  long,  and  I  shall  never  say  them  again.  But  I  tell  you,  dear 
friends,  in  order  to  account  for  all  that  follows. 

"  One  night  a  str.inger  came  to  Mrs.  Crowder's  pew  and  sat  by 
me.  I  remember  now  that  I  glanced  at  him  as  he  took  his  seat, 
and  instinctively  shrank  away  from  him.  1  turned  my  head  away, 
and  then  I  knew  that  he  was  watching  me.  I  felt  his  eyes ;  bold, 
black,  bad  eyes !  And  ever  since  that  night,  when  he  has  been 
near  me,  I  have  had  the  same  experience.  I  could  always  feel  him 
looking  at  me  when  he  chose  to  make  me  feel  his  power.  I 
don't  know  how  he  got  into  Mrs.  Crowder's  family,  but  he  was  a 
constant  visitor  there,  after  that  first  evening.  His  name  was 
Kupert  Grey. 

"  He  came  night  after  night,  always  welcomed  by  Mrs.  Crowder, 
and  especially  welcomed  by  her  eldest  daughter,  sixteen  years  old, 
and  to  her  he  professed  a  special  attachment.  He  kept  up  a  kind 
of  playful  courtship,  with  just  enough  appearance  of  sincerity  to 
charm  the  girl,  while  he  carefully  maintained  the  air  of  playful 
ness,  as  if  to  warn  every  one  else  that  he  was  only  in  joke.  But 
he  succeeded  in  making  Jane  so  madly  jealous  of  me  that  another 
affront  was  put  upon  me,  in  her  petulant  and  passionate  appeals 
to  her  mother  to  send  me  out  of  the  room  when  Mr.  Grey  called. 
I  learned  afterwards  that  this  was  part  of  his  plan,  and  also 


218  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

that  be  insisted  upon  my  presence  whenever  he  was  in  the  house. 
He  told  Mrs.  Crowder,  with — to  use  his  own  words — u  with  gush 
ing  candour,"  that  he  would  discontinue  his  visits  if  they  drove 
her  governess  out  of  the  room.  He  told  me  this,  himself. 

"  If  you  ask  me  how  it  was  possible  for  this  man  to  gain  so 
strong  an  influence  over  me,  I  cannot  answer  you.  Since  I  have 
been  delivered  from  his  presence  I  have  thought  there  must  have 
been  some  occult  power  in  his  wicked  eyes,  that  subdued  my 
will  and  overcame  my  repugnance.  When  his  attention  was 
attracted  to  others  in  the  room  I  would  find  the  feeling  of  restraint 
and  compulsion  wearing  oft',  but  if  he  suddenly  turned  his  eyes 
towards  me,  which  he  frequently  did,  I  would  be  conscious  of  a 
vague  sense  of  his  domination,  and  of  the  reality  of  my  miserable 
submission." 

"  Poor  child !"  said  Tige,  "  it  was  a  clear  case  of  animal  magnet 
ism.  If  a  hideous  snake  can  charm  and  capture  the  beautiful 
bird,  why  should  not  a  worse  reptile  possess  a  similar  power? 
My  belief  is,  that  this  unnatural  ability  is  inherited  directly  from 
the  original  snake  that  beguiled  Eve  in  the  garden !" 

"  Mr.  Grey  met  me  one  day  in  Main  street,"  resumed  Helen, 
"  and  after  a  few  introductory  remarks,  informed  me  that  '  it  was 
necessary  that  he  should  have  my  photograph,  to  perfect  certain 
business  arrangements.'  He  was  so  masterful  that  I  could  not 
resist  him.  After  the  picture  was  taken  he  dismissed  me,  saying, 
1 1  would  have  to  accompany  him  to  New  York,  shortly,  as  I  was 
a  party  to  the  arrangements  he  had  in  hand.'  When  I  got  back 
to  Mrs.  Crowder's  ray  original  horror  of  the  man  returned,  and  I 
suddenly  resolved  to  quit  Cincinnati  and  return  to  Lexington  at 
once.  A  small  satchel  contained  all  my  property,  and  was  soon 
packed.  My  departure  was  hastened  by  an  unusually  stormy 
interview  with  Mrs.  Crowder,  who  charged  me  with  going  out  to 
seek  Mr.  Grey,  and  who  also  referred  to  my  father,  the  sainted 
gentleman,  as  the  very  offspring  of  Satan,  because  he  died  in 
arms  against  the  Government.  I  was  provoked  out  of  my  cus 
tomary  silence,  and  replied  with  scorn  and  wicked  anger." 

"  It  was  a  case,"  quoth  Mrs.  Gaston,  "  in  which  you  fulfilled  the 
Scripture  injunction — 'Be  angry  and  sin  not!'  You  need  not 
mind  repenting  of  that,  my  dear." 

"  It  was  snowing  when  I  left  the  house.  I  walked  down  to  the 
station,  and  found  I  had  to  wait  three  hours  for  the  train.  I  sat 
in  the  waiting  room,  reading  iny  Testament — yes  ;  this  one — 


HELENS  STORY.  .  219 

when  I  was  suddenly  conscious  that  Mr.  Grey  was  near  me.  I 
looked  up  and  saw  him  at  the  door.  He  beckoned  me  out,  and  I 
was  compelled  to  follow  him.  I  am  only  able  to  recall  this  much 
of  my  sensations.  The  shuddering  repugnance  I  felt  when  he  was 
absent — that  I  feel  this  moment — was  so  far  modified  that  I 
experienced  only  a  dull  indifference  about  him.  There  has  never 
been  an  instant  when  I  was  attracted,  even  when  I  most  promptly 
obeyed  him ;  aud  the  events  that  occurred  in  quick  succession 
seem  to  me,  now,  like  the  dim  memory  of  an  awful  dream !  lean- 
not  conceive  it  possible  that  I  really  did  the  things  and  spoke  the 
words  he  commanded  with  his  demon's  eyes !  I  remember  that 
he  took  my  satchel  and  led  me  to  the  street,  aud  that  the  snow 
was  falling  thickly.  He  handed  me  into  a  carriage,  followed,  and 
sat  beside  me,  and  the  driver,  closing  the  door,  mounted  the  box 
and  drove  off. 

"  '  So !'  said  Mr.  Grey,  '  you  meditated  a  flight,  it  seems  f 

" '  Yes,'  I  answered,  indifferently. 

"  '  Well,  it  was  unwise.  First,  to  attempt  to  thwart  me ;  second, 
to  run  counter  to  your  own  interests.' 

•' 1 1  have  no  interests,'  I  said ;  '  where  are  we  going  ?' 

" '  Not  far  j  you  will  know  shortly.  Would  tobacco. smoke  offend 
you  ?' 

"  l  Nothing  offends  me.' 

"  He  smoked  in  silence  until  the  carriage  stopped  at  the  Buruet 
House.  He  gave  me  his  hand  as  I  left  the  carriage,  and  led  me 
in,  I  following  him  mechanically.  We  entered  a  handsome  par 
lour,  on  the  second  floor,  when  he  took  my  waterproof  cloak  and 
shook  oft'  the  snow  flakes,  while  he  pointed  to  a  chair  near  the 
grate.  There  were  three  men  in  the  room — one  an  Episcopal  min 
ister  and  the  others  apparently  servants  of  the  hotel.  Mr.  Grey 
sat  opposite  me,  and  took  my  hand  in  his,  looking  into  my  face 
with  his  cold,  cruel  eyes,  until  I  found  my  eyelids  drooping.  I 
felt  as  I  did  once  before  under  the  influence  of  opium  :  no  inclina 
tion  to  resist  anything,  or  choose  anything- ;  just  helpless  and 
indifferent. 

"  '  Helen,'  he  said,  slowly  and  distinctly,  l  I  have  prepared,  as 
you  see,  for  our  marriage.  It  is  not  proper  for  you  to  travel  with 
me  to  New  York  in  any  other  relation,  and  we  are  going  immedi 
ately  ;  are  you  ready  ?' 

"  '  Ready,'  I  said. 

u  The  minister  canie  forward  with  a  book  in  his  hand,  and  Mr. 


220  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

Grey  assisting  me  to  rise,  we  stood  before  him.  I  don't  remember 
anything  he  read,  but  I  recollect  noticing  that  part  of  one  ear  was 
cut  off.  He  put  his  hand  up,  as  if  to  pull  his  hair  over  the  ugly 
place,  once  or  twice.  Then,  I  remember  that  Mr.  Grey  said  in  a 
whisper : 

"  <  Say  "  I  will  !"  Helen.' 

"  '  I  will !' 

"  I  signed  my  name  in  a  book  and  he  signed  his,  and  the  three 
men  signed  theirs.  The  clergyman  filled  up  a  printed  form  and 
signed  it,  giving  it  to  Mr.  Grey,  who  rang  the  bell  as  they  retired, 
ordering  the  servant  to  bring  in  dinner.  It  came  in  a  few  minutes, 
and  he  bade  me  sit  at  the  table  and  eat.  I  cannot  remember  any 
thing,  except  that  a  cup  of  tea  seemed  to  refresh  me.  In  a  short 
time  afterwards,  while  the  servants  were  still  removing  the  dishes, 
he  put  my  cloak  around  me,  took  me  down  to  the  carriage,  which 
had  his  trunk  strapped  on  the  back  of  it,  and  we  drove  to  another 
station  through  the  deepening  snow.  We  were  soon  seated  in  the 
car,  and  the  train  moved  out,  as  the  night  gathered  around,  and  I 
remember  a  dull  feeling  of  relief  came  over  me,  under  the  conviction 
that  the  future  certainly  could  have  no  horrors  in  store  for  me 
that  would  be  worse  than  my  present  desolation. 

"  He  did  not  talk  to  me  during  the  night,  but  slept  in  his  seat, 
and  while  he  slept,  I  gradually  recovered  my  senses  and  meditated 
upon  the  distracting  fact  that  I  was  married  to  this  wretched  man. 
He  had  the  certificate  at  that  instant !  I  remembered  noting  how 
he  threw  his  arm  forward,  as  he  dropped  the  paper  in  the  breast 
pocket  of  his  coat.  I  involuntarily  turned  towards  him,  and  saw 
the  edge  of  the  paper,  and,  hardly  knowing  what  I  did,  I  drew  it 
out  and  read  it  by  the  light  of  the  lamp  overhead.  Yielding  to  a 
sudden  impulse,  I  tore  the  paper  into  small  fragments  and  threw 
them  on  the  floor. 

u  During  the  next  day  he  was  generally  silent  upon  any  topic  ex 
cept  the  scenery,  the  snow  storm,  the  state  of  the  track  and  other 
indifferent  matters.  I  was  reading  my  Testament  just  before  dark, 
on  the  second  day,  when  he  suddenly  leaned  towards  me  and  whis 
pered  : 

" i  You  run  the  religious  machine,  I  see ;  I've  no  objection.  The 
Book  you  are  reading  will  tell  you  that  you  owe  me  unanswering 
obedience !  Now,  listen  and  remember !  There  is  a  piece  of  prop 
erty  called  Euthven's  Folly  in  New  York,  and  I  am  persuaded 
that  it  can  be  secured  to  you  by  the  observance  of  a  few  rules. 


HELENS  STOEY.  221 

First,  do  not  speak  of  your  marriage  to  any  mortal ;  second,  do 
not  mention  my  name,  or  your  own — I  mean,  your  maiden  and 
married  name,  both  or  either — until  I  give  you  permission.' 

"  *  I  have  no  title  to  Ruthven's  Folly,'  I  answered,  steadily, 
*  and  I  would  never  accept  it  if  I  had !' 

"  '  Pish  !'  he  said,  rudely,  i  do  not  be  so  positive !  I  will  see  that 
your  rights  are  secured  in  due  time.  Only  obey  me.  On  your 
religion,  I  charge  you  !' 

"  These  were  the  last  words  he  ever  spoke  to  me.  The  train 
stopped  almost  as  he  spoke,  and  it  was  soon  announced  that  we 
could  not  proceed.  You  know  the  rest  of  the  story." 

"  Yes,"  answered  Tige,  with  exulting  eagerness,  "  yes,  Helen  ; 
and  I  know  a  part  of  the  story  that  you  don't  know.  My  dear 
child,  you  were  not  married  !" 

"  Not  married  ?"  said  Helen,  her  eyes  dilating  with  delirious 
joy.  <4  Oh,  Mr.  Gaston,  you  would  not  tell  me  an  untruth  !" 

"  Not  I  !"  said  Tige.  "  I  know  that  one-eared  clergyman !  He 
is  a  vile  scoundrel  whom  I  defended  once  in  a  criminal  suit.  He 
told  me,  three  days  ago,  that  he  had  been  well  paid  by  Grey  to 
personate  a  minister  and  perform  that  bogus  ceremony,  and  I 
have  his  deposition  in  due  form  to  that  effect,  attested  by  the 
same  witnesses  who  saw  the  pretended  marriage.  It  was  from 
him  that  I  learned  that  Grey  was  at  the  spiritualist's — Doctor 
Lamis,  I  mean." 

Helen  hid  her  face  upon  Nell's  breast,  while  the  latter  coo'd  and 
cheered  her  in  her  own  fashion. 

"  Cry  away,  my  dear ;  it  does  you  good  !  I'm  crying  myself. 
Tige  !  you  hard-hearted  old  wretch,  why  don't  you  cry  ?" 

"  I'd  rather  laugh,  Nell,"  answered  Tige. 

"  It's  no  consequence  1"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  openly  wiping  his  eyes. 
"  But  if  I  ever  get  sight  of  that  chap  agin,  and  don't  put  him  out 
of  the  notion  of  gitten  married — dern  his  picter ! — you  may  jest 
sell  me  for  a  quart  of  peanuts,  and  cheat  the  peanut  seller  when 
you  do  it — that's  all !  Helen,  child  !  will  you  come  home  with  me, 
to-day  F 

"  Friday,  Uncle,  composition  day ;  to-morrow  will  be  a  holiday, 
and  I  can  help  dear  Mrs.  Gaston,  maybe." 

"Yes,  indeed !  Mr.  Skillet,  Helen  is  not  going  until  I  go  !  and 
I  am  not  going  until  Darcy  goes  !" 

"  It's  all  right !"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  "  I  cave  !  But  I  must  go  to 
Wall  street,  and  I'll  come  back  at  dark." 


222  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

"And  Fll  come  back  after  school!  Oh,  my  heart  is  so  light 
that  all  my  past  sorrow  and  shame  seem  as  nothing.  If  I  could 
only  be  assured  that  this  murderous  wretch  were  imprisoned  for 
life  I  don't  think  I  should  ever  murmur  or  repine  again.  Dear  Mr. 
Gaston,  how  kind  you  have  been !  Oh,  Uncle !  this  gentleman,  if 
I  had  yielded  to  his  earnest  invitation,  would  have  kept  me  in 
Kentucky  and  then  I  should  never  have  known  you." 

"  Ya-as !  It's  no  consequence,  but  them  Gastons  is  a  bad  breed ; 
they  want  all  the  good  lookin'  gals  they  see  !" 

Helen  blushed,  laughed,  and,  kissing  Nell  six  times,  tripped 
away. 

As  the  shadows  lengthened  in  the  evening  she  returned.  Darcy 
was  much  better.  He  had  eaten  nineteen  saucers  of  ice  cream 
during  the  day.  But  his  eyes  were  bandaged  up,  poor  boy. 

Might  she  watch  him,  while  dear  Mrs.  Gaston  got  a  little  nap  ? 

Certainly !  He  would  only  want  ice  cream ;  it  was  in  the 
freezer,  just  outside  the  door.  If  he  spoke  to  her,  she  could  just 
pass  herself  off  for  a  Sister  of  Charity. 

Tige  was  in  New  York,  attending  to  some  law  business. 


CHAPTER  XLVI. 
THE  DARK  CHAMBER. 

.  The  sleeper  in  the  darkened  room,  his  other  senses  rendered 
more  acute  by  reason  of  his  semi-blindness,  was  wakened  by  the 
stealthy  footfall  c*  the  Sister  of  Charity,  as  she  approached  his 
bedside.  He  could  only  distinguish  the  outlines  of  her  form,  but 
he  could  hear  the  rustle  of  her  dress,  as  she  seated  herself  in  the 
chair  near  him. 

"  Nell !  Sister,  is  it  you  ?"  he  said. 

"  No !"  she  whispered ;  "  Mrs.  Gaston  is  sleeping.  What  will 
you  have  ?" 

"  Light !" 

"  Ah  !  the  Doctor  says  you  must  wait." 

"  How  long  have  I  been  here  f '  he  asked,  after  a  pause. 

"  It  is  seven  o'clock  now.  You  came  at  eleven  last  night.  You 
have  been  here  twenty  hours." 

There  was  another  pause.    Darcy  was  trying  to  recall  the 


THE  DAEK  CHAMBER.  223 

> 

events  of  the  previous  evening.  The  encounter  at  the  Ferry. 
Then  Helen !  When  he  endeavoured  to  collect  the  sequences  in 
that  interview,  he  found  himself  perpetually  overleaping  the  in 
tervals  arid  reaching  the  terrible  culmination  :  "His  wife!  Do 
you  hear  f  Then  suddenly  he  remembered  the  book,  and  felt  in 
his  breast  for*t.  He  only  found  a  wound,  smarting  under  a  mass 
of  bandages. 

"  Pardon  me !"  he  murmured  again  ;  "  are  you  the  nurse  F 

"  Yes.    I  am  watching  you  while  Mrs.  Gaston  sleeps." 

"  Please  tell  me  the  truth  !     Does  the  Doctor  say " 

"  The  Doctor  says  quiet  is  important ;  and  darkness.  Your  eye 
is  hurt,  and  he  fears  inflammation." 

"  What  makes  my  breast  so  sore  ?" 

"  You  were  hurt  there  also.     It  is  not  serious." 

"  I  had  a  little  Book  in  my  breast.    Did  you  see  it  f 

"  Yes." 

After  another  short  silence,  Darcy  began  to  whisper  to  himself. 
She  leaned  forward  to  listen.  He  seemed  to  be  reciting  a  task, 
with  great  deliberation. 

"  A  Verb  is  a  word  which  signifies  to  be,  or  to  do,  or  to  suffer ; 
as :  *  I  am,  I  love,  1  am  loved !'  Then  a  pause,  as  though  he  were 
meditating  upon  the  meaning  of  the  sentence,  and  then  the  repe 
tition  of  it. 

"  What  are  you  saying  ?"  whispered  the  nurse,  uneasily. 

"  I  am  a  Verb!"  answered  Darcy ;  "  Nell  loves  me ;  Tige  also. 
Those  are  all !" 

The  nurse  was  dismayed  by  this  reply.  He  spoke  so  smoothly 
and  coherently,  that  she  rejected  the  first  impression  his  words 
produced.  His  mind  was  not  wandering. 

"  Tliat  Book !"  said  Darcy  j  "  is  it  here  f ' 

"  Yes.' 

"  May  I  see  it  ?    Only  a  moment." 

"  You  cannot  see  anything,"  replied  the  nurse,  after  a  momentary 
hesitation ;  "  your  eyes  are  bound  up.  A  few  hours'  patience  is 
all  that  is  required  of  you.  The  Doctor  says  he  will  take  off  the 
bandages  to-rnorrow,  if  there  are  no  new  symptoms." 

"  You  whisper  all  the  time !"  muttered  he,  fretfully.  "  Nothing 
ails  my  ears  !  Why  cannot  you  speak  out  P 

"  I  must  not." 

il  I  cannot  tell  whether  I  dream  or  no  !"  said  Darcy.  "  I  remem 
ber  a  savage  fight.  I  remember  drawing  my  weapon,  and  Helen 


224  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

pulled  it  away  !  But  that  was  an  old  dream,  I  swear  !  But  I 
could  not  shoot  him,  so  I  shot  the  other  one.  His  wile  !  do  you 
hear.  O  monstrous  fraud !  There  are  certain  propositions  which 
the  mind  cannot  entertain,  even  when  supported  by  indubitable 
proof;  and  this  is  one  of  them.  1  have  dreamed  all  that  wild 
story.  I  did  not  see  her.  I  did  not  steal  her  Bootf  !  Ah  !  kind 
nurse,  let  me  hold  the  Book  in  my  hand !" 

The  nurse's  eyes  were  overflowing.  She  drew  the  Book  from  her 
bosom  and  placed  it  in  his  hand.  He  felt  the  shattered  covers, 
with  tremulous  fingers,  and  then  slipped  the  volume  under  his 
pillow. 

"  Common  honesty,  you  know,"  he  whispered,  apologetically; 
"I  took  it  without  her  knowledge.  I  must  get  it  back  to  her 
somehow.  That  was  in  the  dream  also.  Darcy  Euthven  Gaston 
stealing  a  book !  Ha,  ha !  But  it's  no  consequence.  I  beg  your 
pardon.  Do  you  know  Mr.  Skillet  ?" 

"  Yes.    He's  my  uncle." 

"Ah  !"  said  Darcy,  with  a  sigh  of  relief;  "that  accounts  for 
your  kindness,  then.  For  he  is  the  kindest  man  alive.  And  you 
are  in  the — the  Institute  !  He  told  me  he  had  two  nieces  there. 
His  brother's  daughters." 

"  Yes." 

"Then  you  know  Miss  Harding  ?" 

There  was  no  answer.  He  had  pushed  back  the  bandage  that 
covered  his  eyes,  and  she  was  leaning  over  him,  readjusting  it. 
She  handled  him  tenderly,  but  with  resolute  hands. 

"  You  must  keep  your  eyes  covered,"  she  whispered,  as  she 
resumed  her  seat ;  "  Doctor  Chase  left  that  as  his  parting  in 
junction." 

"  To  hear  is  to  obey,"  said  Darcy ;  "  but,  Miss  Skillet,  please 
tell  me  how  you  happen  to  be  here." 

"  My  uncle  brought  me." 

" Kind  uncle!  Do  you  know  that  a  tear  dropped  on  my  cheek 
while  you  were  leaning  over  me  ?  Ah  !  I  offended  you,  ignorantly, 
by  imitating  your  excellent  uncle  just  now.  Believe  me,  I  honor 
him  as  truly  as  yourself,  and  I  did  not  mean  to  offend." 

"  It's  no  consequence,"  she  answered,  with  a  little  ripple  of  a 
laugh,  in  a  whisper. 

"  By  George !"  exclaimed  Darcy. 

"  Say  '  By  Gemini!'    That  is  the  way  Uncle  Skillet  swears." 

Darcy  put  out  his  hand,  groping  in  the  dark  for  hers.  She  drew 
shyly  back  out  of  his  reach. 


THE  DARK  CHAMBER.  225 

"  I  beg  pardon,"  said  he,  withdrawing  his  hand ;  "  I  only  wished 
to  shake  hands  as  a  token  of  my  gratification.  I  did  not  think 
you  were  able  to  laugh." 

She  leaned  over  him  again,  and  wiped  his  pallid  cheek  with  a 
napkin,  and  then  put  her  soft  hand  in  his.  His  fingers  closed 
upon  it,  and  then  came  to  pass  one  of  those  inscrutable  phenomena 
that  baffle  the  investigations  of  philosophers.  As  he  held  her 
hand  a  faftit  color  spread  over  his  face,  and  he  felt  the  thrill  that 
passed  through  his  body  accelerating  his  pulses  and  deepening 
his  respirations. 

"  Oh,  Helen  !"  he  murmured,  at  last ;  "  is  it,  indeed,  you  ?" 

The  little  fingers  trembled  in  his  grasp,  but  she  did  not  answer. 

"  I  should  call  you  Mrs.  Grey,"  he  continued,  "  but  I  cannot 
yet." 

"I  am  not  Mrs.  Grey,"  she  whispered;  "I  am  only  Helen 
Euthven." 

This  youth  of  quick  perceptions,  endowed  with  that  prompt 
decision  of  character  which  is  the  prime  factor  in  mental  dynam 
ics,  rushed  to  a  swift  conclusion. 

"  You  are  kind  to  me,"  he  said,  "  because  I  lie  here  helpless, 
and  perhaps  dying;  and  you  tell  me  anything  to  quiet  me.  I 
did  not  dream  all  that  horrible  scene  last  night.  Here  is  the 
Book !" 

"  Yes,  with  the  covers  shattered,"  she  replied.  "  The  bullet 
that  would  have  killed  you  was  turned  aside  by  these  broken 
shells !"  and  she  furtively  kissed  the  Book. 

"  And  you  told  me  just  now,"  continued  Darcy,  "  that  you  are 
Miss  Skillet, " 

«  No." 

"  You  said  Mr.  Skillet  was  your  uncle." 

"  Yes.    That  is  true.    He  says  so,  and  I  believe  him." 

"And  you  told  me  last  night  that  you  were  Rupert  Grey's 
wife  P 

"  Yes.  But  I  was  mistaken.  He  pretended  to  marry  me  a  few 
minutes  before  we  took  the  train,  when  I  met  you.  I  will  tell  you 
when  you  are  well  enough.  You  are  not  dying." 

"Oh,  Helen!  lean  never  be  well  enough!  You  must  have 
loved  that  man " 

"Never !''  she  answered,  vehemently.  "  I  never  looked  at  him 
or  thought  of  him,  except  with  abhorrence.  And  when  you  told  me 
on  the  train  that  he  was  killed,  I  could  have  wept  for  joy.  In  all 

15 


226  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

the  world  there  is  no  reptile  that  I  hate,  as  I  hate  that  wretched 
man  !  Love  him  !  Ah,  how  could  you  say  such  cruel  words  to  me  !'? 

He  still  held  her  hand,  while  his  own  trembled. 

"  Do  you  not  understand  ?"  she  continued,  softly.  "  By  some 
witchcraft,  he  controlled  my  will.  I  felt  as  one  feels  who  is 
drugged,  or  somnambulic,  led  along  without  even  the  desire  to 
resist.  His  object  was  to  gain,  through  me,  possession  of  the 
property  he  expected  me  to  inherit,  and  he  deceived  me  by  the 
pretended  marriage,  knowing  that  my  conscience  would  compel 
me  to  obey  a  husband's  authority  !  Ah  !  Do  you  not  see  now, 
why  I  could  not  listen  to  you  last  night !" 

He  turned  towards  her,  hurting  his  wounded  breast  horriblyr 
without  heeding  it,  and  drew  her  head  down  upon  it.  It  seemed 
to  him  that  the  wounds  healed  rapidly. 

"  If  I  dare  understand  you  to  mean  this,"  he  whispered,  "  my 
life  will  not  be  long  enough  to  tell  you  the  story  you  interrupted 
last  night.  May  I  tell  you  now,  Helen  f 

"  It's  no  consequence  !"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  who  had  entered  the 
darkened  room  softly,  lest  he  should  disturb  the  patient ;  "  but 
it  seems  to  me  that  you  are  gitten  along  pooty  smart !" 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  Darcy,  while  Helen  shrunk  back  into  her 
chair ;  "  I  am  well  enough  to  get  up,  if  the  doctor  will  let  me." 

"  Not  to-night,"  answered  Mr.  Skillet.  "  Chase  says  your  eyes 
must  be  kept  covered.  Hay !  Hello !  Is  it  you  1  I  thought  it 
was  Mrs.  Gaston." 

"Mrs.  Gaston  sent  me  in,  sir,"  replied  Helen ;  "she  did  not 
sleep  at  all  last  night,  and  she *' 

"  All  right !"  said  her  uncle ;  "  it's  no  consequence.  Seems  to 
me  you  looked  some  sleepy  yourself.  Wa'nt  you  a  leanin'  over 
like  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir.    Mr.  Gaston  was  asking  a  question " 

Mr.  Skillet  beckoned  her  away  from  the  bedside,  to  the  oppo 
site  corner. 

"  Did  he  git  a  look  at  you  f  he  asked,  eagerly. 

"  Oh,  no.  His  eyes  are  bound  up.  Besides,  the  room  is  quite 
dark." 

"  Then  he  don't  know  you  I    He !  he !    That's  prime !" 

"  But  I  told  him  I  was  your  niece,  sir,"  said  Helen,  deceitfully, 
"  and  he  called  me  Miss  Skillet." 

"Did  he?"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  delighted;  "bully  for  Dassy! 
And  did  he  ask  if  you  was  at  the  Institoot?  I  told  him  my  nieces 
•were  at  the  Institoot." 


TEE  DARK  CHAMBER  227 

"  I  think  be  did,  and  I  said,  yes." 

"  That's  right.  Let  her  set,  and  go  about  your  business,  please  I 
You  can  come  back  after  a  while.  I  want  to  talk  a  little  to  him. 
Might  ask  him  su'thin  you  hadn't  ought  to  hear." 

"  Yes,  sir.  I  left  my  handkerchief  there.  I'll  get  it,  and  go." 
She  walked  softly  across  the  room,  and  bent  over  the  blind 
youth. 

"  I  must  go  now,"  she  whispered  ;  "  but  I  will  come  again  when 
I  can.  Give  me  my  Book." 

"  I  won't !"  replied  Darcy.  "  Excuse  me  !  I  mean  I  can't.  It 
is  in  the  old  place  over  my  heart.  My  darling  !" 

"  Hush  !"  and  she  put  her  hand  on  his  lips.  He  kissed  the 
dainty  fingers,  and  she  did  likewise,  as  she  whisked  through  the 
door. 

"  Can't  see  nauthin  f  observed  Mr.  Skillet,  drawing  near. 

"  No,  sir.  I  think  the  last  thing  I  saw  was  the  ugly  face  of 
Eupert  Grey.  Mr.  Skillet,  I  found  out  that  he  was  the  man  who 
followed  me  in  New  York." 

"  Did  you  ?  Ah,  well !  He's  gone !  No  sign  of  him  anywhere. 
Skedaddled.  Your  brother  and  me  went  for  him  last  night ;  and 
he  had  got  a  bad  knock  in  the  head,  and  we  thought  he  would 
keep  till  mornin'.  But  he  was  off  before  daylight.  Clean  gone  !" 

Darcy  waited  to  hear  more,  but  Mr.  Skillet  paused  for  a  reply. 

"  I  thought  you  might  say  what  you  said  about  old  Brown,  sir, 
the  other  morning — something  about  his  picture." 

"Certainly,"  responded  Mr.  Skillet;  "cuss  his  picter!  Dern 
his  picter  !  if  that  makes  you  feel  better." 

"  Thank  yon,  sir,"  said  Darcy,  faintly ;  "  you  see  I  don't  like  to 
swear  while  I  am  so  ill !  When  I  get  well,  I'll— 

"  Better  let  him  set.  The  other  robber  knocked  him  in  the 
head,  and  stole  his  watch  and  pocket-book.  It's  no  consequence 
about  him.  You'll  be  all  right  to-morrow,  I  guess  ?" 

"  I  am  quite  well  now,  sir,"  replied  Darcy  ;  "only  a  little  weak. 
If  they  would  let  me  get  up,  I  think  I  could  walk  out." 

"  No  use  to  walk  out,  now.  Night.  What  did  you  do  with  the 
Norman  papers  ?" 

"  All  in  my  drawer  at  Mr.  Camp's.  I  gave  brother  Tige  the 
key  to-day.  He  has  gone  to  New  York  to  settle  that  business. 
I  see,  now,  all  that  Miss  Norman  desired  to  do.  She  is  a  noble 
woman,  Mr.  Skillet.  I  admire  her  greatly." 

"  You  do  !  Well,  it's  no  consequence,  but  mebbe  you'd  like  to 
spark  her  a  spell  ?" 


228  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

11  Oh  no,  sir  !"  said  Darcy ;  "  I  could  not  think  of  such  a  thing. 
Miss  Norman  can  go  to  Europe  and  marry  a  duke.  Do  you  think 
I  would  have  the  impudence  to  court  such  a  lot  of  money  ?" 

"  Money  don't  make  a  grain  of  difference,  if  there's  plenty  of 
love,"  said  Mr.  Skillet.  "  She's  got  it  all  in  her  own  right,  and 
nobody  could  say  a  word  agin  it,  if  she  wanted  to  marry  an  alder 
man." 

"Marriage  is  a  very  serious  business,  Mr.  Skillet,"  replied 
Darcy,  after  reflecting  a  few  minutes.  "  I  must  wait  until  I  make 
some  money  of  my  own,  before  I  think  of  matrimony." 

"When  you  first  come  to,"  observed  Mr.  Skillet,  cautiously, 
"you  was  a  ravin'  about  some  Helen.  Mebbe  you  have  been 
doin'  some  courtin'  unbeknownst  like  ?  You  did  not  say  who 
Helen  was.  You  seemed  to  want  her  saved  though,  pooty  con 
siderable." 

"  Yes,  sir.    But  I  was  not  thinking  of  courting  then." 

"  The  dickens  you  wan't !  What  was  you  so  anxious  about 
then  ?" 

"  I  thought  the — the  devil  was  after  her,"  said  Darcy. 

"  Well,  you  was  not  far  wrong,  I  guess.  The  devil  is  after  most 
people  that  I  know.  Who  was  you  talkiu'  to  when  I  came  in  just 
now  ?" 

"  Oh !"  replied  Darcy,  "  that  was — she  said  she  was  your  niece, 
sir.  She  was  very  kind,  indeed.  But  I  would  have  known  that, 
if  I  had  known  she  was  related  to  you,  Mr.  Skillet.  Since  I  have 
been  lying  here,  all  in  darkness,  I  have  thought  of  all  your 
kindness  to  me,  many  times.  You  took  me  into  your  office, 
though  I  was  totally  ignorant  of  the  commonest  business  rules. 
You  did  not  scold,  though  I  made  so  many  blunders ;  but  you 
have  patiently  endured  my  ignorance,  and  have  encouraged  me  in 
a  hundred  ways.  And  you  make  me  think,  sometimes,  that  I  shall 
really  learn  to  be  valuable  to  you.  And  when  that  time  comes — " 

"  Gemini!"  interrupted  Mr.  Skillet,  "  you'll  _talk  yourself  into  a 
regular  fever  !  It's  no  consequence.  You're  learniu' !  Keep 
your  margins  up,  and  don't  speckillate  yourself.  Git  your  com 
missions,  and  bag  'em.  If  you  feel  like  takin'  a  flyer  in  gold  or 
stocks  on  your  own  account,  jest  wrap  a  wet  towel  round  your 
head.  Them  is  all  the  business  rules  you  want.  And  here  is 
Mrs.  Gaston.  Good  evening,  ma-am !  Dassy  is  talkin'  quite 
reasonable  to-night.  Chase  says  he  may  git  up  to-morrow." 

"  Sister,"  whispered  Darcy,  as  Nell  bent  over  him,  "  I  have  not 


THE  PARTITION.  229 

seen  your  dear  face.  May  I  take  this  horrid  bandage  off?  Only 
one  eye  hurt !  Oh,  thank  you!  Bless  your  kind  eyes.  And, 
sister  Nell !  Please  bring — bring  Mr.  Skillet's  niece  in,  and  let 
me  get  one  glimpse  of  her !  Oh,  you  darling  sister !  I'll  make 
Tige  buy  you  a  stunning  silk  dress  to-morrow." 

"  It's  my  opinion,"  said  Mr.  Skillet,  who  had  overheard  the  last 
request,  "  that  you  are  a  deceitful  young  cuss.  Come  in,  Helen  ! 
It's  no  consequence." 


CHAPTEE    XLYII. 
THE  PARTITION. 

~\  /TE.  COKE  was  poring  over  deeds  to  the  Norman  Estate, 
.1X1-  when  Mr.  Henry  Gaston  presented  his  card,  bearing  the 
various  legal  titles  that  he  had  won  in  his  profession,  and  with  it, 
a  note  from  Miss  Norman,  introducing  Mr.  Gaston,  and  referring 
Mr.  Coke  to  him  for  a  full  explanation  of  her  desires  in  the  mat 
ter  of  the  partition  of  the  Estate.  The  note  concluded  with  the 
announcement  of  her  wish  for  an  immediate  transfer  of  titles  to 
the  Real  Estate,  and  an  equitable  division  of  the  personal  prop 
erty,  as  she  hoped  to  sail  for  Europe  in  a  few  days. 

"  Take  a  seat,  Mr.  Gaston,"  said  the  New  York  lawyer,  politely ; 
"  we  shall  have  no  prolonged  litigation  in  this  case.  Have  you 
any  suggestion  to  offer,  relating  to  the  settlement1?" 

"  I  wait  for  you,  sir,"  answered  Tige;  "  Mrs.  Bragdou  will,  uo 
doubt,  have  preferences,  which  must  be  consulted.  By  the  bye,  I 
am  instructed  to  say  to  you,  that  Miss  Norman  entrusts  me  with 
the  charge  of  her  interests  in  this  division,  because  she  desires 
Mr.  Coke  to  be  entirely  free  from  any  embarrassment,  in  advo 
cating  the  rival  claims  of  her  sister." 

"  Eival  claims  ?"  said  Mr.  Coke,  taking  off  his  spectacles ;  "  there 
cannot  be  anything  like  rivalry.  There  are  two  heirs,  and  they 
take  equal  proportions.  Have  you  a  list  of  the  property  ?" 

"Yes,  sir,"  answered  Mr.  Gaston,  producing  Darcy's  list; 
"  please  examine  it,  and  correct  any  errors." 

"  It  needs  no  correction,"  said  Mr.  Coke,  after  reading  the  doc 
ument.  "  The  balance  of  cash  is  set  down  in  round  figures,  and 
the  valuation  of  some  of  the  bonds  differs  slightly  from  mine.  But. 
there  is  really  no  need  of  valuations,  as  each  party  in  interest  will 
take  one  moiety  and  pass  receipts." 


230  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

"But  you  cannot  divide  houses,  Mr.  Coke,"  observed  Tige; 
"  and  iny  principal  business  to-day,  is  to  hear  your  proposition  for 
the  division  of  the  Kealty." 

"  Mr.  Bragdon  suggests  that  the  separate  parcels  be  put  up  at 
a  sort  of  auction " 

"  Nothing  could  be  more  reasonable,"  replied  Mr.  Gaston ; 
11  when  shall  the  sale  take  place  H" 

"  Mr.  Bragdou  will  be  here  immediately,"  said  Mr;  Coke,  "  and 
I  think  he  will  be  prepared  to  arrange  the  settlement  at  once." 

"  My  dear  sir,"  said  Tige,  "  it  seems  to  me  that  my  presence  is 
a  mere  formality.  I  am  going  down  Wall  street,  and  will  return 
within  an  hour.  And  if  you  will,  in  the  meantime,  get  from  Mr. 
Bragdon  his  bids  upon  the  separate  parcels,  I  will  obtain  Miss 
Norman's  bids  also.  The  whole  business  can  be  settled  to-day,  if 
you  will  examine  this  deed  of  partition,  which  includes  all  the 
property,  leaving  only  the  names  in  blank.  No  doubt  you  will 
find  some  blunder  in  it,  as  I  am  more  familiar  with  Kentucky 
forms,  than  with  those  of  New  York." 

"  Let  me  understand  you,  Mr.  Gaston,"  said  Mr.  Coke,  as  the 
other  put  on  his  hat ;  "  you  propose  to  make  separate  bids " 

"  No,  sir.    I  thought  that  was  your  proposition." 

"  Ah,  well !  no  matter.    It  is  all  in  the  family,"  said  Mr.  Coke. 

"  And  therefore  should  be  the  more  carefully  guarded.  If  Mr. 
Bragdon — or  rather  Mrs.  Bragdon — appro  ves,.let  her  fill  up  the  list, 
affixing  the  amount  she  will  pay  for  each  parcel.  Miss  Norman  will 
offer  a  similar  list.  And  when  we  compare  the  two  papers,  the 
highest  bidder  will  take  the  property,  piece  by  piece.  Of  course 
the  balance  on  either  side  will  be  settled  by  the  cash  and  bonds 
at  an  agreed  valuation.  Mrs.  Bragdon  may  desire  some  special 
parcels,  and  will  therefore  bid  higher  for  them,  or  vice  versa. 
Neither  will  know  the  other's  estimate,  and  therefore  the  partition 
must  be  entirely  equitable.  Good  morning!  I  will  be  back  at 
noon." 

"  Now,"  thought  Mr.  Coke,  "  this  Kentucky  man  has  con 
structed  the  very  scheme  that  Bragdou  suggested  !  It  is  very 
curious  that  they  should  agree  so  thoroughly." 

In  due  time  Mr.  Bragdon  arrived.  He  was  charmed  with  the 
method  of  settlement  suggested,  and  to  make  assurance  doubly 
sure,  requested  Mr.  Coke  to  "  fix  a  document "  that  would  make  the 
bids  equal  to  a  regular  transfer  of  title.  When  informed  that  this 
could  not  be  done,  by  any  forms  known  to  New  York  lawyers,  he 


THE  PARTITION.  231 

suggested  that  an  agreement  might  be  drawn  up,  binding  each 
of  the  high  contracting  powers  to  abide  by  the  result  of  the  bid 
ding,  under  a  penalty  to  be  decided  upon  when  the  ladies  arrived. 

Notwithstanding  Tige's  modest  depreciation,  the  partition  deed 
was  found  to  bo  correctly  drawn.  Mr.  Bragdon  drove  up  town  for 
his  wife,  and  at  noon,  Mr.  Coke  introduced  Mr.  Gaston,  as  the 
representative  of  Miss  Nina  Norman.  Mr.  Bragdon's  first  ques 
tion  related  to  the  amount  of  the  penalty. 

"  I  have  a  paper  here  drawn  by  Miss  Norman,  and  duly  attested,'' 
said  Mr.  Gaston,  "  by  which  she  binds  herself  under  a  penalty 
of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  to  accept  the  results  of  this  bid 
ding.  If  Mrs.  Bragdou  will  sign  a  similar  paper,  it  is  already 
drawn,  and  only  needs  her  signature— and  Mr.  Bragdon's.  Mr. 
Coke  and  I  will  witness  the  signatures,  and  we  will  then  ex 
change  the  papers.  Miss  Norman  has  made  all  these  preparations, 
because  she  is  eager  to  make  a  prompt  settlement." 

"  And  the  bids  P  said  Mr.  Bragdou. 

"  Miss  Norman's  bids  are  in  this  sealed  envelope,"  said  Tige. 
"  There  are  nine  separate  parcels  enumerated,  and  she  bids  on 
each.  Here  is  the  duplicate  paper,  with  the  amounts  in  blank. 
Mr.  Bragdou  has  only  to  affix  the  amounts  he  is  willing  to  pay, 
and  a  few  minutes  will  settle  the  question  of  ownership." 

"  Miss  Norman  is  not  coming,  then  ?"  said  Mr.  Bragdon. 

"  No.  She  requests  Mr.  Coke  to  present  the  deeds  at  the  hotel 
to-day  or  to-morrow." 

After  a  brief  consultation  with  his  wife,  Mr.  Bragdon  filled  in 
the  blanks,  and  all  the  preliminary  papers  were  signed,  and  handed 
to  Mr.  Coke.  The  envelope  was  opened,  and  the  slips  containing 
Nina's  bids  taken  out.  Mr.  Coke  read  aloud  from  the  separate 
lists.  u  Number  One  !  Mrs.  Bragdon  bids  one  hundred  thousand 
dollars  for  dwelling  on  Fifth  Avenue.  Miss  Norman  bids  fifty 
thousand.  It  is  therefore  Mrs.  Bragdon's." 

That  amiable  lady  heaved  a  sigh  of  relief.  Mr.  Bragdon  ground 
his  teeth. 

"  Number  two  !"  continued  the  lawyer.  "  Mrs.  Bragdon  bids 
seventy-five  thousand  dollars  for  the  Wall  street  offices.  Miss 
Norman  bids  eighty  thousand.  It  is  therefore  Miss  Norman's." 
Mr.  Bragdou  ground  his  teeth  again. 

"  Number  three !  Mrs.  Bragdon  bids  fifty  thousand  dollars  for 
the  Canal  street  store.  Miss  Norman  bids  thirty  thousand.  Num 
ber  three  goes  to  Mrs.  Bragdon.  Number  four !  Mrs.  Bragdon 


232  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

bids  fifty  thousand  dollars  for  the  store  on  Bond  street.  Miss 
Norman  bids  thirty.  It  goes  to  Mrs.  Bragdon.  Number  five ! 
Mrs.  Bragdon  bids  two  hundred  thousand  dollars  for  the  stores  on 
Broadway.  Miss  Norman  bids  two  hundred  and  ten  thousand. 
They  go  to  Miss  Norman." 

"  Curse  the  Broadway  stores,"  muttered  Mr.  Bragdon. 

"  Number  six !  Mrs.  Bragdon  bids  fifty  thousand  dollars  for 
the  Newport  house.  Miss  Normau  bids  ten  thousand.  It  goes  to 
Mrs.  Bragdon.  Number  seven!  Mrs.  Bragdon  oilers  one  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  dollars  for  the  farm  near  Youkers.  Miss  Nor 
man  offers  fifty  thousand.  It  goes  to  Mrs.  Bragdon.  Number 
eight!  Mrs.  Bragdon  bids  forty  thousand  dollars  for  the  house  in 
Saratoga.  Miss  Norman  bids  thirty-five  thousand.  It  is  Mrs. 
Bragdon's." 

"  Cursed  dear  too !"  muttered  Mr.  Bragdon. 

"  Number  nine !"  continued  Mr.  Coke ;  "  Mrs.  Bragdou  bids  two 
hundred  thousand  dollars  for  Kuthven's  Folly.  Miss  Norman  bids 
three  hundred  thousand.  It  is  therefore  Miss  Norman's !"  And 
Mr.  Coke  took  off  his  spectacles.  "  That  is  the  last." 

"Three  hundred  thousand,"  said  Mr.  Bragdon,  starting  to  his 
feet ;  "  the  girl  is  insane !  I  really  protest  against  so  reckless  a 
proceeding !  Three  hundred  thousand !" 

"  It  is  only  one  hundred  thousand  more  than  Mrs.  Bragdon's 
bid,"  observed  Tige,  as  he  collected  the  slips.  "  I  fancy  it  is 
cheap !  The  rumour  now  current  is,  that  the  city  will  condemn 
this  property  very  soon,  and  add  it  to  the  Park." 

"  Who  says  so?"  said  Mr.  Bragdon,  furiously. 

"  Oh,  several  well  informed  people !  And  now,  Mr.  Coke,  there 
will  be  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars  due  the  common 
fund,  from  Miss  Norman ;  that  is,  she  will  have  to  transfer  seventy- 
five  thousand  dollars  from  her  moiety  of  the  bonds,  to  Mrs.  Brag- 
don*  She  instructs  me  to  offer  Mrs.  Bragdon  her  choice  of  the 
bonds  at  the  assessment,  and  if  you  will  appoint  the  hour  for  the 
exchange  of  titles,  we  will  be  ready." 

"At  four  o'clock  this  afternoon,"  said  Mr.  Coke,  "if  that  hour 
will  suit  Mrs.  Bragdon.  The  deed  is  ready  now  :  or,  if  you  please, 
I  can  fill  in  the  spaces,  and  take  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bragdou's  signa 
tures  now,  and  get  Miss  Norman's  this  afternoon." 

"  That  will  be  the  better  plan,"  said  Mr.  Bragdon.  "  I  have  no 
desire  to  encounter  that  peppery  young  lady " 

"  Who  is  not  present,"  said  Mr.  Gaston. 


THE  PARTITION.  233 

"  I  do  not  need  any  hint  from  you,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Bragdori,  white 
with  rage ;  "  Miss  Norman  is  the  sister  of  Mrs.  Bragdon " 

"  Who  is  present,"  interrupted  Tige,  "  and  we  therefore  cannot 
discuss  any  questions  that  might  provoke  intemperate  contro 
versy.  I  am  at  the  Fitth  Avenue  Hotel,  and  will  be  happy  to  meet 
you  there,  or  elsewhere,  at  your  own  convenience.  I  beg  your 
pardon  !"  he  continued,  with  a  sweet  smile,  "  but  in  my  country 
gentlemen  never  have  altercations  when  ladies  are  present.  I 
will  give  you  all  the  opportunities  you  desire,  to — to  compare 
notes." 

Mr.  Bragdon  looked  into  Tige's  handsome  face,  so  placid  and 
friendly,  and  saw  danger.  Darcy  had  told  his  brother  something 
about  his  meeting  with  Mr.  Bragdon,  and  Tige  remembered  it. 
Mrs.  Bragdon,  deceived  by  the  dulcet  tones  of  Mr.  Gaston,  saw 
nothing  of  the  devil  that  was  in  his  eyes. 

"  John,"  she  said,  "  I  hope  you  will  not  make  any  trouble.  Do 
let  us  get  this  business  settled,  and  be  done  with  it." 

Mr.  Bragdon  subsided. 

In  tbe  interval  between  this  meeting  and  four  o'clock,  Mr.  Gas- 
ton  went  to  Brooklyn,  and  had  a  long  interview  with  Helen.  And 
when  he  waited  upon  Nina,  in  the  afternoon,  he  took  Mr.  Skillet 
with  him.  Miss  Norman  received  them  graciously.  Tige  had 
sent  her  a  telegram  directly  after  the  meeting  at  Coke's,  contain 
ing  only  two  words,  "  property  yours." 

He  gave  her  a  list  of  the  bids,  but  said  nothing  about  Mr. 
Bragdon's  comments.  Nina  does  not  know  to-day  how  sorely  she 
had  disappointed  her  brother-in-law,  who  had  learned  under  the 
seal  of  confidence  that  the  City  would  purchase  the  property 
known  as  "  Kuthven's  Folly."  He  had  also  learned  that  the  assess 
ment  would  be  over  the  amount  of  his  bid.  But  Tige  had  ascer 
tained,  as  he  supposed,  the  highest  possible  sum  it  would  com 
mand,  and  by  Nina's  orders  added  fifty  thousand  dollars  to  that 
estimate. 

"  I  believe  all  your  wishes  have  been  accomplished,  Miss  Nor 
man,"  said  Mr.  Gaston,  shaking  hands  with  her ;  "  I  mean,  relat 
ing  to  the  partition  of  the  property.  You  have  obtained  the  par 
cels  you  desired,  and  you  have  paid  much  more  than  Mrs.  Brag 
don  bid  for  them.  Her  bid  for  "  Kuthven's  Folly"  was  one  huu- 
dred  thousand  dollars  less  than  yours." 

"Hi!"  said  Mr.  Skillet;  "'Kuthven's  Folly!'  Gemini  and 
Gosh  !  It's  no  consequence,  but  Bragdon  has  been  pumpin'  me 


234  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

about  that  same  property,  forty  times.  And  now,  Miss  Nina, 
you've  got  it.  Gemini !  Jest  let  it  set." 

"  I  saw  Miss  Euthven,"  continued  Tige,  "  and  conveyed  all  your 
messages.  She  was  greatly  touched,  but  inflexible.  She  refuses 
to  accept  the  property,  positively,  saying  her  father  would  rise 
from  his  grave  to  rebuke  her  if  she  did ;  and  she  declares  she  will 
instantly  transfer  it  to  the  Hospital  in  Lexington,  if  the  owner 
ship  comes  to  her  in  any  way." 

"  Then  I  will  carry  out  my  original  plan,"  said  Nina.  "  I  will 
give  the  property  to  your  brother." 

"  I  am  afraid  you  cannot  do  that  either,  Miss  Norman.  Indeed, 
I  am  sure  you  cannot.  The  Gastons  never  accept  gifts !  I  have 
not  spoken  to  him  on  the  subject,  but  I  am  quite  sure  he  would 
decline  as  obstinately  as  Helen  does." 

"  Has  he  ever  spoken  to  Miss  Euthven  on  the  subject  H"  said 
Mna. 

"  Possibly.    The  boy  is  over  head  and  ears  in  love  with  her !" 

A  paleness  overspread  Nina's  face.  Tige  saw  it,  but,  being  a 
gentleman,  turned  away  and  addressed  Mr.  Skillet. 

"  Mr.  Skillet,"  he  said,  "  cannot  you  devise  some  plan  by  which 
Miss  Norman  can  accomplish  her  desire  ?" 

"  Nauthiu'  easier  !"  said  Mr.  Skillet;  "jest  you  go  about  your 
business  about  half  an  hour.  I'll  mano3uvre  'em  all.  You  can 
come  back  at  four  o'clock." 


CHAPTER  XLVIII. 
BLAKE   AND   BLOKE. 

IF  Dutchy  had  known  that  his  friend  and  patron  had  two 
"  places  of  deposit,"  his  soul  would  have  been  filled  with 
shame  and  self-abhorrence,  as  he  sat  in  the  smoking  car  on  the 
New  York  Central  Railroad,  that  frosty  morning.  He  would  have 
lamented — more  than  did  Lord  Ullin  over  the  loss  of  his  daughter 
— that  he  had  not  "  gone  through  "  his  late  boss,  while  he  lay 
senseless  on  the  floor.  The  pocket-book  he  secured  contained  two 
or  three  hundred  dollars,  but  Mr.  Grey  had  a  larger  sum,  buckled 
around  his  body  in  a  money  belt ;  and  with  this  capital  he  began 
a  new  career  in  Washington.  The  New  York  Herald  gave  a 


BLAKE  AND  BLOKE.  235 

graphic  account  of  the  murderous  assault  upon  «  Mr.  Dossie  Gas- 
kius,"  with  an  accurate  description  of  the  locality,  near  the  old 
church,  where  the  murder  had  been  attempted ;  and  the  para 
graph  concluded  with  the  announcement  that  Mr.  Gaskins'  hurts 
were  slight,  "  the  bullet  having  been  deflected  by  his  watch  case." 
All  this  Mr.  Grey  read  a  day  or  two  after  his  arrival.  With  his 
native  hardihood,  he  decided  to  run  the  risk  of  arrest,  if  Darcy 
should  make  complaint,  and  boldly  resumed  his  proper  name, 
and  began  business  as  "  claim  agent,"  with  one  client.  This  was 
an  impecunious  army  contractor,  whose  demands  upon  the  Gov 
ernment  were  not  properly  drawn  up,  and  who  offered  Mr.  Grey  a 
moiety  of  his  claim  for  collecting  the  total. 

He  had  an  extensive  acquaintance  among  the  officials,  and  his 
success  with  this  initial  claim  brought  him  more  business.  Within 
a  month  his  office  was  fairly  organized,  and  he  was  beginning  to 
be  known  as  the  most  successful  lobbyist  at  the  Capitol.  The 
memory  of  his  altercation  on  the  old  church  pavement  was  fading 
away,  when  two  gentlemen  presented  themselves  in  his  private 
office,  one  day,  and  brought  all  the  events  vividly  before  him- 
The  visitors  introduced  each  other 

"  Mr.  Timothy  Skillet." 

"  Henry  Gaston,  Esquire." 

"  Ah !  take  seats,  gentlemen  !"  said  Mr.  Grey,  with  charming 
politeness.  He  kept  two  supplies  of  cigars  in  different  drawers 
of  his  desk.  One  drawer — the  upper  one — contained  fragrant 
weeds,  made  of  Connecticut  tobacco,  and  perfumed  lavishly  with 
valerian.  The  lower  drawer  contained  genuine  Partagas.  He 
usually  presented  his  visitors  with  native  growth ;  on  the  present 
occasion  he  proffered  the  imported  article.  The  gentlemen  de 
clined,  and  Mr.  Grey,  with  a  word  of  apology,  selected  and  lighted 
one  for  himself. 

"  We  have  some  private  business,"  said  Gaston,  gravely,  "  and, 
perhaps,  it  would  be  better  to  have  no  witnesses." 

"  It's  no  consequence  !"  said  Mr.  Skillet — u  that  is,  to  us.  But  I 
guess  you  might  as  well  send  out  your  clerk,  and  let  him  shet  the 
door  after  him  !" 

u  Certainly,"  said  Mr.  Grey,  nodding  to  his  clerk,  who  van 
ished. 

"  We  only  want  your  signature  to  this  document,"  began  Mr. 
Gastou,  handing  a  paper  to  Grey ;  "  it  is  a  full  account  of  your 
adventures  in  Cincinnati,  and  of  your  subsequent  attempt  at 


236  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

murder  in  Brooklyn.     We  require  your  signature,  which  we  will 
witness,  and,  perhaps,  a  notarial  seal  also." 

While  he  read  the  paper,  which  he  did  with  great  deliberation, 
Eupert  performed  his  accustomed  cigar  exercise — throwing  his 
arm  forward,  elevating  his  chin,  and  blowing  out  the  smoke-rings. 
Gaston  regarded  him  with  cold  gravity ;  Mr.  Skillet  watched  him 
with  growing  admiration. 

"  May  I  inquire,"  said  Grey,  "  what  use  you  intend  to  make  of 
this  piece  of  romance  F 

"  We  need  it  at  present,"  replied  Mr.  Gaston,  "to  satisfy  a  lady 
who  was  almost  your  victim,  and  who  still  remembers  you  with 
unspeakable  loathing.  We  cannot  say  whether  it  will  be  used 
against  you  in  legal  process  or  not.  Probably  not,  unless  you 
should  be  troublesome  hereafter." 

"And  if  I  decline  to  sign  F  said  Mr.  Grey. 

"Then  we  will  obtain  the  same  facts  from  the  records  of  the 
court,  which  will  answer  our  purpose." 

"  The  court  F  said  Grey,  his  face  flushing. 

"  Yes ;  the  Criminal  Court,"  answered  Gaston,  coldly.  "  We 
have  the  necessary  papers  with  us  to  secure  your  attendance.  We 
have  all  the  witnesses  we  need — Lamis,  Brown,  of  Cincinnati,  who 
officiated  as  clergyman  for  you,  and  one  of  the  witnesses  to  the 
bogus  ceremony  ;  we  have  Miss  Norman's  and  Miss  Keith's  testi 
mony  in  legal  form  ;  we  have  the  offer  of  the  testimony  of  John 
Dutchy,  alias  Bloke,  for  a  price — moderate  enough,  if  we  need  it — 
and  we  have  Darcy  Gaston  and  Helen  Ruthven,  ready  to  complete 
the  case,  whenever  you  desire  the  trial." 

"  Quite  a  formidable  array  of  names  !"  said  Mr.  Grey. 

"  Quite  formidable,"  replied  Tige. 

"  It  appears  to  me,  gentlemen,"  said  Grey,  after  some  delibera 
tion,  "  that  this  paper  is  very  much  like  a  dying  confession.  If  I 
sign  this  interesting  narrative  I  take  away  its  present  fictitious 
character,  and  give  it  the  force  of  veritable  history.  If  I  refuse  to 
sign " 

"  If  you  refuse  to  sign,"  interrupted  Gaston,  "  you  will  please 
prepare  for  a  journey  to  New  York  by  the  afternoon  train.  The 
policeman,  who  pulled  your  red  beard  off  at  Fulton  ferry,  waits 
outside — first,  to  identify  you,  and  second,  to  escort  you  north 
ward.  Personally,  I  shall  be  gratified  if  the  affair  takes  this 
course.  I  make  the  other  proposal  in  deference  to  Miss  Norman's 
wishes,  and  also  to  save  Miss  Ruthven  from  the  notoriety  that 
will  follow  your  trial  and  conviction." 


BLAKE  AND  BLOKE.  237 

» 

"  And  you  offer  me  no  guaranty  that  this  paper  will  not  be  used 
against  me  hereafter?" 

"  None !"  answered  Tige,  with  cold  ferocity. 

"  Not  even  a  promise  P 

"  Not  even  a  promise.  The  word  of  a  Kentucky  gentleman 
would  be  all  the  guaranty  you  would  demand ;  but  you  cannot 
have  that." 

"  Then  I  throw  myself  upon  the  honour  of  the  Kentucky  gen 
tleman,"  said  Rupert,  "  who  will  make  some  allowance  for  the  vio 
lence  of  my  passion,  even  though  hopeless,  and  my  consequent 
jealousy " 

"  Be  silent  1"  said  Tige,  sternly. 

Rupert  shrugged  his  shoulders,  then  took  up  his  pen  and  signed 
his  name  with  a  flourish.  The  others  affixed  their  signatures  as 
witnesses. 

"  Mr.  Skillet,"  said  Tige,  "  will  you  please  call  in  the  notary  ? 
The  legal  formalities  had  better  be  complied  with."  Mr.  Skillet 
nodded  his  head  and  retired.  "  If  you  and  I  ever  meet  again," 
continued  Gaston,  in  measured  accents,  "  where  any  pretext  will 
excuse  the  act,  I  will  kill  you  !" 

"  There  may  be  an  opportunity,"  replied  Grey,  smiling. 

"  And  if  Darcy  Gastou  ever  gets  near  enough  to  cover  you  with 
his  pistol,  he  will  not  wait  for  a  pretext  1  I  pray  you,  go  out  of  the 
country  and  begin  a  new  life.  A  life-long  repentance  will  not 
atone  for  your  past  wickedness  in  this  world,  but  you  may  modify 
the  retributions  that  will  find  you  in  another." 

The  entrance  of  the  notary,  with  Mr.  Skillet,  prevented  a  reply. 
The  customary  certificate  was  added  to  the  document,  Mr.  Grey 
sworn  upon  a  little  Testament  produced  by  the  notary,  and  the 
gentlemen  prepared  to  depart.  Mr.  Skillet  lingered  a  moment  to 
pay  his  parting  respects. 

"  If  you  ever  visit  N'Yauk,"  he  whispered,  "  come  to  Number 
fifty-five  Wall  street  and  ask  for  Timothy  Skillet,  and  if  I  am  to 
home  when  you  call,  there  will  either  be  a  funeral  to  my  heouse, 
or  I'll  put  sich  a  head  onto  you  that  will  make  the  dome  of  the 
Capitol  look  like  a  pimple!  Dern  your  picter  !  Good  mornin'  !" 

To  escape  the  rigours  of  a  northern  climate,  Mr.  Grey  removed 
to  Mississippi  very  shortly  after  the  interview  above  recorded. 
The  long  war  had  impoverished  that  State,  but  Mr.  Grey  picked 
up  a  livelihood  by  playing  poker  (draw  poker),  after  the  most 
approved  rules.  His  name  was  Martinbird,  and  he  bestowed  this 


238  FLESH -AND  SPIRIT. 

• 

euphonious  name  upon  a  widow  lady,  three  or  four  years  ago,  who 
was  fourth  cousin  to  an  official  who  dispensed  gifts.  This  lucky 
marriage  secured  him  the  appointment  to  a  foreign  post,  with 
small  salary,  but  with  large  opportunities,  and,  under  a  tropical 
sky,  Mr.  Martinbird  dispenses  princely  hospitalities  to  wandering 
Americans  to-day.  Those  of  them  who  learn  draw  poker,  under 
his  tutelage,  swell  his  revenues ;  and  there,  as  Mr.  Skillet  would 
say,  let  him  set ! 

In  parting  with  this  man,  it  is  proper  to  say  a  word  touching 
the  peculiar  power  he  sometimes  exerted  over  persons  of  sensitive 
organism.  Psychological  phenomena  are  of  such  a  character  as 
to  elude  scientific  scrutiny,  and  the  asserted  facts  of  animal 
magnetism  are  not  so  well  established,  or  so  accurately  described, 
as  to  give  it  a  place  among  the  exact  sciences.  But  there  are 
certain  analogies  that  are  well  known,  relating  to  the  domination 
of  one  will  over  another,  which,  being  exaggerated,  form  the 
staple  of  sensational  stories.  Eupert  Grey,  being  endowed  with 
an  iron  will,  and  being  utterly  remorseless,  exerted  so  much  of 
this  occult  power  as  he  possessed,  whenever  he  encountered  anew 
victim ;  and  it  is  probable  that  he  relied  upon  this  influence  to 
keep  Dutchy  in  subjection. 

But  Mr.  Dutchy  not  being  sensitive,  was  restive  under  restraint. 
He  also  was  born  to  "  take  things,"  and  it  was  not  possible  to 
keep  him  for  any  long  period  out  of  his  natural  habits.  And 
when  he  "  went  West,"  with  a  certain  snug  capital,  it  was  with 
the  intention  of  finding  some  locality  where  stealing  was  the 
chief  occupation  of  the  inhabitants. 

He  spent  a  week  in  Cincinnati,  reading  New  York  papers 
diligently  every  day.  The  escape  of  Gastou  from  bludgeon  and 
bullet  was  totally  inexplicable.  And  he  was  devoured  with 
anxiety  to  know  the  manner  of  his  patron's  death,  as  he  had  an 
uncomfortable  suspicion  that  he  was  poison-proof,  and  totally  in 
vulnerable.  And  as  the  papers  were  silent  upon  this  topic,  Dutchy 
was  ill  at  ease. 

One  day,  when  he  was  standing  at  the  newspaper  file,  in  the 
reading-room  of  the  hotel,  a  man  touched  his  arm.  It  was  Doctor 
Lamis. 

"  Hardly  knew  you,"  said  the  Doctor.  "  How  long  have  you 
been  here  ?  I've  been  looking  for  you." 

"  Have  you  ?    Well,  what  do  you  want  ?" 

"  Why,  how  you've  changed  !    Nobody  would  know  you,  since 


SLAKE  AND  SLOKK  230 

you've  shaved !    I  have  been  studying  you  ten  minutes,  and 
was  about  to  give  you  up,  when  you  tossed  your  arm  out — so ! — 
with  your  cigar  in  your  fingers  ;  and  then  1  knew  you  were  imi 
tating  Grey.    You  see  I  have  known  Grey  so  long." 
"  Yes,"  replied  Dutchy. 

"  Well.    I  saw  Grey's  pants  on  you.    I  thought  I  could  swear 
to  them.    The  figure  is  peculiar.    Very  !" 
"  What  do  you  want  ?"  said  Dutchy. 

"  I  may  want  your  testimony  about  that  little  affair  where  you 
lost  your  fingers.    Mr.  Gaston  has  got  your  fingers,  in  alcohol. 
But  all  I  want  is  the  facts  about  Grey ;  the  shooting,  and  the  ar 
rangements  you  made  before  you  started.  Grey  has  skedaddled !" 
"  What  do  you  want  I"  repeated  Dutchy. 

"  I  tell  you  I  want— or  Mr.   Gaston  wants — your  deposition, 
telling  where  you  met  Grey,  and  all  tbat  he  did." 
"  A  hundred  dollars !"  said  Dutchy,  stolidly. 
"A  hundred  dollars?"  replied  Doctor  Lamis.    "Why,  he  can 
get  all  he  wants  by  arresting  you." 

"  Werry  well  !"  said  Dutchy,  obstinately ;  "  let  him  try.  I  can 
be  found  here,  I  s'pose.  If  he  wants  me  to  squeal  on  the  boss, 
he's  got  to  pay  a  hundred  dollars.  That's  all !" 
"  Well.  I'll  telegraph  him."  said  Lamis.  "  Wait  here  for  me." 
"  All  right,"  said  Dutchy.  resuming  his  study  of  the  newspaper. 
And  as  Doctor  Lamis  passed  into  the  telegraph  room,  Dutchy 
passed  into  the  street.  Heroically  resolving  to  sacrifice  his  per 
sonal  property,  he  left  his  new  satchel,  containing  the  paper 
collars,  the  hair  brush,  and  ten  or  twelve  cigars  that  had  cost  him 
three  cents  a  piece.  His  anguish  was  modified  by  the  reflection 
that  he  owed  about  twenty  dollars  at  the  hotel,  wbich  the  urgency 
of  his  present  business  forbade  him  to  pay. 

He  concluded  that  safety  was  not  to  be  found  in  any  northern 
State,  and  he  therefore  decided  to  settle  in  the  devastated  South. 
He  wandered  through  Kentucky,  down  into  Tennessee,  and 
finally  reached  the  low  country  of  South  Carolina,  travelling  in 
the  track  of  General  Sherman.  The  war  was  over,  and  the  people 
were  impoverished.  Nothing  left  for  Dutchy  to  steal,  so  he  bought 
a  plantation,  paying  three  hundred  dollars  in  new  bank  notes  on 
account,  and  leaving  a  mortgage  debt  upon  it.  He  got  a  crop 
planted,  working  early  and  late,  and  compelling  the  negroes  he 
employed  to  work  also,  by  the  sheer  force  of  brute  pluck  and  in 
domitable  perseverance.  Before  his  crop  matured,  he  sold  his 


240  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

plantation,  taking  cotton  in  payment,  and  actually  doubled  liis 
investment.  He  was  pronounced  in  his  loyalty,  and  the  negroes 
followed  him  blindly,  and  at  last  sent  him  to  the  State  Legisla 
ture.  Here  he  was  a  great  success.  He  catalogued  the  votes 
that  were  purchasable,  and  farmed  them  out,  selling  his  bonds 
for  whatever  they  would  bring  in  ready  money;  and  by  the  time 
the  work  of  reconstruction  was  accomplished,  he  was  ready  for  a 
larger  field  of  usefulness.  He  announced  himself  a  candidate 
for  Congress,  and  was  triumphantly  elected. 

The  honourable  gentleman  from  South  Carolina  was  very  quiet 
during  the  first  session.  Pay  and  mileage  sufficed  for  his  moder 
ate  needs.  When  the  second  session  began,  he  was  known  to  the 
lobby  as  the  one  member  who  had  a  price,  and  who  could 
"  arrange"  with  several  other  members  for  a  consideration.  If  the 
lobby  did  not  respond  to  his  just  demands,  he  was  wont  to  shake 
his  mutilated  fist  at  it,  referring  to  the  two  fingers  "he  had  left  at 
Gettysburg,"  and  finally  clawing  the  considerations  that  came  in, 
with  the  remaining  digits.  He  was  "  long,"  as  Mr.  Skillet  would 
say,  in  Credit  Mobilier,  Back  Pay,  and  other  Congressional  en 
terprises.  When  election  time  arrived,  he  stumped  his  district, 
flourishing  the  same  honourable  scars  in  the  faces  of  his  black 
constituents,  and  secretly  dispensing  large  charities  in  exchange 
for  votes. 

The  name  he  bears  is  neither  Bloke  nor  Dutchy ;  but  he  has 
found  a  level  where  his  genius  is  manifested.  He  does  not  bore 
the  House  with  speeches,  but  he  is  looked  upon  as  a  rising  man. 
He  is  surrounded  by  competitors  who  give  him  more  uneasiness 
than  the  cops  who  threatened  the  peace  of  Dutchy's  mind  in  the 
forgotten  past ;  not  that  he  dreads  detection  and  exposure,  but  he 
keenly  feels  the  loss  of  the  two  fingers  he  left  at  Gettysburg,  as  he 
can  only  steal  with  one  hand  while  his  competitors  can  steal  with 
two. 

So,  as  he  passes  out  of  this  history,  the  reader,,  who  has  followed 
his  fortunes  thus  far,  can  safely  leave  him  in  the  service  of  his 
country.  Eepublics  are  proverbially  ungrateful,  but  while  this 
untiring  public  servant  has  one  finger  left,  he  can  "  point  with 
pride  "  to  his  prowess  at  Gettysburg,  and  can  steal  more  and  lie 
more  than  any  ten  men  in  the  ordinary  walks  of  life.  And  if  his 
towerir.g  genius  shall  ever  lead  him  to  attempt  the  theft  of  a  red 
hot  stove,  and  he  should  fail  (which  is  not  probable)  and  perish  in 
the  attempt,  the  unanimous  voice  of  his  country  will  invoke  peace 
to  his  "  ashes." 


AND  LAST.  241 

CHAPTER    XLIX. 
AND  LAST. 

Paris,  June,  1872.  The  beautiful  city,  scarred  by  the  Com- 
JL  inune,  but  full  of  attractions.  The  broken  column  in  the  Place 
Vendome  fenced  in,  looking  grim  and  desolate.  The  ruins  of  his 
toric  palaces  a  little  lower  down,  with  spruce  soldiers  on  guard,  and 
busy  sight-seers  prowling  around  them.  But  all  the  boulevards 
thronged  with  passengers.  A  grown  man  on  a  bicycle,  darting 
along  the  Eue  de  la  Paix,  avoiding  carriages  with  French  dexter 
ity,  and  making  great  time.  All  the  shops  gay  and  brilliant. 
Along  the  Boulevard  des  Italiens  multitudes  of  cafes,  with  little 
round  tables  on  the  pave,  two  chairs  to  each,  and  most  of  them 
occupied  by  idlers,  sipping  eau  sucre',  or  Vin  Ordinaire. 

A  little  after  mid-day.  For  three  or  four  hours  the  Bois  de  Bou 
logne  will  be  a  solitude.  With  a  pocketful  of  cigars,  and  no 
care  to  vex  the  soul,  one  can  loiter  about  the  shady  drives  in  bliss 
ful  idleness,  hearing  the  distant  note  of  the  cuckoo,  and  the  warb 
ling  of  unnumbered  nearer  birds,  darting  about  in  the  green  can 
opy.  Go  down  into  the  Eue  Scribe,  just  below  the  new  Opera 
House,  and  select  your  carriage. 

"  A  Fheure,  Monsieur  P  said  the  driver. 

"  Oui !  Just  one  o'clock — stop  !  Who  is  this  coming  up  the 
Eue  Scribe?  Mr.  Skillet!" 

"  Is  it  you  P  said  Mr.  Skillet,  joyfully ;  "  wa-al,  this  is  a  treat ! 
Where  are  you  goin'  P 

.  "  To  the  Bois  de  Boulogne.  A  dozen  cigars  in  my  pocket,  and 
three  hours  of  quiet.  Come  and  talk  to  me.  I  am  starving  for 
the  sound  of  a  friend's  voice.  Come !" 

"  Sackery  blew !"  responded  Mr.  Skillet ;  "  now  that's  cur'ous  ! 
But  I  was  this  minnit  wishin'  for  some  fellow  to  talk  at.  Got  de- 
junny  at  noon,  ben  down  to  Munro's,  and  was  jest  goin'  back  to 
sleep  till  dinner  time.  It's  no  consequence  !  I'm  in  I" 

Through  the  Champs  Elyse'es,  with  fountains  playing— then  long 
streets,  then  the  dusty  road.  We  smoked  in  silence  as  we  bowled 
along.  But  at  last  came  the  cool  green  woods,  with  flowers  all 
along  the  roadway,  and  finally  the  little  waterfall,  and  the  grotto 
with  grotesque  carvings  on  its  sides.  So  we  halted  here. 

"  Now  Mr.  Skillet !  It  has  been  seven  years  since  I  left  New 
York,  and  I  do  not  know  one  item  of  American  history  since  the 
close  of  the  war.  Begin  !" 

16 


242  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

Mr.  Skillet  propped  his  body  up  carefully  in  his  corner,  put 
his  long  legs  on  the  front  seat,  lighted  a  fresh  cigar  and  threw  his 
hat  on  the  grass. 

"  Fust  of  all,  then,  the  Normans.    Nina  went  to  Europe." 

"  Yes.  The  l  China.'  I  came  out  at  the  same  time.  But  she 
was  not  visible  during  the  voyage,  and  we  only  exchanged  greet 
ings  as  the  ship  passed  Sandy  Hook." 

"  Wa-al  then,  she  jest  fixed  up  her  property  in  two  days,  took 
her  old  school-marm  with  her,  and  skedaddled  !  And  she  has  not 
been  back  since  !  I  have  charge  of  her  stocks  and  rents  and 
bonds,  and  I  jest  remit  her  a  thousand  pounds  every  three  months, 
and  buy  Gov'ments  with  her  suplus  revenue.  She  lives  to  Mentone 
and  Eome  all  winter,  comes  to  Paris  in  June,  and  spends  the 
summer  in  Switzerland.  Don't  write  a  word  to  nobody  'cept  to 
me,  and  then  she  only  says,  '  I  received  your  note  of  sich  a  date, 
with  the  enclosure,  and  beg  to  return  my  thanks !'  She  might  as 
well  have  'ein  printed.  Do  you  know  that  I  can't  make  up  my  mind 
to  call  upon  her  U  She  is  in  Paris  now.  Found  her  address  at 
Monroe's  to-day.  But  I  kinder  draw  back  from  seein'  her,  be 
cause  she  mightn't  like  to  be  reminded  of  the  old  times !  She  is 
smart  as  a  steel  trap,  but  she  and  her  school-marm  have  sot  up  a 
private  spiritooal  shop,  and  they  have  a  hull  lot  of  tomfoolery  all  to 
themselves.  I  have  heard  that  she  can  git  a  revelation  whenever 
she  likes.  It's  no  consequence.  But  it;  is  a  cussed  shame  that  so 
smart  a  woman  should  be  sucked  in  so  easy.  But  let  her  set. 

"  Tige  Gaston  ?  Certainly  !  Got  a  letter  from  him  this  very 
day.  Here  it  is.  May  as  well  read  it  to  you.  No  secrets !  It's 
my  belief  that  Tige  Gaston  couldn't  keep  or  have  a  secret  five 
minuits  at  a  thousand  dollars  a  minuit !  'Taint  in  the  breed.  Dassy 
can  keep  his  mouth  shet,  because  I've  learned  him ;  but  if  he 
heard  two  fellows  talkin'  about  the  locality  of  a  gold  mine,  where 
anybody  could  go  and  fill  their  pockets  for  nauthin',  instead  of 
listenin'  like  any  other  man,  he'd  jest  pin  his  ears  down  and  whistle 
out  loud !  But  I'll  read  the  letter : 

"  MY  DEAR  ME.  SKILLET  :  I  was  delighted  to  hear  that  you  had 
really  sailed  for  Europe.  Darcy. wrote  me,  enclosing  your  kind 
note,  and,  this  being  the  first  day  I  have  had  since  its  arrival, 
when  urgent  business  did  not  occtapy  me  fully,  you  will  excuse  the 
delay.  Nell,  who  sends  you  kind  greetings,  says  I  shall  quit  law 
and  settle  down  to  plain  farming ;  but  I  have  grown  so  fond  of  my 
profession,  and  am  getting  so  penurious  and  grasping,  that  I  think 


AND  LAST.  243 

I  shall  continue  the  practice  a  little  longer.  My  country  home  is 
a  perfect  paradise,  though.  When  you  return,  I  intend  to  have 
you  here  to  spend  six  months  at  least.  I  used  to  think  this  quiet 
country  beautiful  seven  years  ago,  when  the  best  music  1  heard 
was  the  songs  of  the  birds ;  but  my  two  youngsters,  Darcy  and 
Helen,  aged  respectively  five  and  three,  fill  my  house  with  far 
more  delightful  music.  My  friend,  there  is  no  such  thing  as  life 
for  human  beings,  in  its  full  development,  except  where  the  voices 
of  children  are  constantly  heard " 

"•Guess  that's  enough  for  Mr.  Tige.  He  jest  keeps  on  writin' 
about  them  two  brats,  as  if  the  sun  and  moon  rose  and  sot  for 
them !  Sackery  blew  !  I  never  met  a  man  that  was  so  swallowed 
up  as  Mr.  Gaston.  Two  more  pages  here  and  nauthin'  in  'em,  but 
Dassy  and  Helen !  It's  no  consequence ! 

"  Grey  ?  Ah,  now  you've  got  me.  I  called  onto  him  down  to 
Washington  a  mouth  after  you  sailed.  He  was  a  claim  agent ; 
but  he  didn't  seem,  to  like  our  visit.  Mr.  Gastoii  was  with  me. 
We  kinder  give  him  a  hint  that  we  thought  he  ought  to  be  hung, 
and  we  got  some  documents  that  he  thought -might  be  trouble 
some.  Anyway,  he  left  for  parts  unknown.  Mna  told  me  he  was 
a  kind  of  mesmerizer,  and  she  was  afeard  of  him.  She  never  let 
him  come  where  she  was,  without  having  somebody  else  with  her. 
He  was  a  rare  devil !  Cuss  his  picter !  I  believe  the  old  he  Boss 
Devil  jest  carried  him  off,  as  nobody  could  find  hair  nor  hide  of 
him. 

"  The  Norman  property  ?  Oh,  it  was  all  divided  fair  and  square. 
Nina  had  set  her  heart  on  a  patch  o'  land  that  joined  the  Park, 
and  she  bid  a  cool  hundred  thousand  more  than  old  Bragdou 
would  pay.  I  beg  pardon  !  Is  Bragdou  a  relation  o'  yourn  If  No  ? 
Well,  you're  lucky  !  So,  when  she  got  the  deed,  the  fust  thing 
she  started  was  a  transfer  to  Helen — my  niece;  but  she  was 
spunky  and  wouldn't  have  it.  The  reason  why  Miss  Xorman  was 
so  set  was,  fust :  an  old  will  that  had  been  superseded  by  a  later 
one ;  and  second,  some  devilish  spiritooal  humbug,  that  made  her 
as  obstinate  as  a  niuel.  Then,  when  Helen  positively  refused,  she 
tried  to  give  it  to  Dassy,  because  he  was  named  after  the  proper 
owner.  But  that  was  wuss  !  You  had  ought  to  have  seen  that 
whelp  when  she  made  the  offer!  He  was  settin'  up.  It  was  the 
day  after  he  was  wounded,  and  she  drove  over  to  Brooklyn  to  see 
him.  He  delivered  a  moral  discourse  to  her  about  receiving  gifts. 
It  was  beautiful  !  1  thought  he  was  a  tarnation  fool  all  the  time, 


244  FLESH  AND  SPIRIT. 

mind  you  !  but  there  was  su'thin  grand  about  the  way  that  boy 
talked!  So  we  went  back  to  N'Yauk,  her  and  me,  and  then  we 
manosuvred  'em  !  Sackery  blew ! 

"  How  was  it  managed  ?  It's  a  secret,  but  I  can  trust  you !  She 
jest  sold  Euthven's  Folly  to  Timothy  Skillet  for  three  hundred 
thousand  dollars,  receipt  whereof  is  hereby  acknowledged,  and 
cetera,  though  I  did  not  pay  her  uary  cent,  and  I  signed  my  will 
in  her  presence,  leavin'  the  same  sum  of  money  to  Dassy  Euthven 
Graston  and  Helen  Euthven,  either  or  both,  or  the  survivor  of 
them,  and  to  their  heirs,  administrators,  executors  and  assigns. 
And  that  will  is  sealed  up  and  in  the  hands  of  Philemon  Coke  to 
day.  It's  no  consequence,  though  ! 

"  Why  not  ?    Because  I've  made  a  new  will ! 

u  The  city  took  the  property  and  paid  me  three  hundred  and 
forty-two  thousand  dollars,  in  seven  per  cent,  bonds.  The  papers 
raised  Cain  about  Mr.  Skillet's  foresight  and  so  forth.  The  Herald 
said  Mr.  Skillet  was  the  only  man  in  N'Yauk  that  knowed  the 
true  value  of  property !  I  wrote  to  Nina  tellin'  her  I  had  made  a 
new  will,  jest  leavin'  them  same  bonds,  instead  of  the  even  money. 
And  I  have  ben  creditin'  Dassy's  account  with  the  interest  ever 
since,  and  he  is  worth  a  hundred  and  forty  thousand  dollars  on 
my  books  this  day !  I  am  payin'  him  a  salary  of  twenty-five  hun 
dred  a  year,  too ! 

"  Dassy  ?  Sackery  blew !  I  don't  know  how  to  tell  you  about 
Dassy.  As  soon  as  he  sot  up,  after  that  murderin'  hound  had 
shot  him,  dern  his  picter  !  he  says,  l  Mr.  Skillet,  I  want  to  marry 
your  niece,  and  whenever  I  am  worth  enough  salary,  please  give 
me  enough  to  get  married  on !'  That's  his  style !  I  gave  him  fif 
teen  hundred  on  the  spot,  and  he  went  for  her  the  next  ininuit ! 

"  I  tried  to  mancBuvre  'em,  but  'twant  no  use.  They  was  too 
heavy  for  me.  Helen  refused  to  quit  schooliu',  because  she  had 
agreed  with  Miss  Keith  to  keep  the  Institoot  for  a  year.  And  she 
didn't  give  up  tiH  Miss  Keith  wrote  to  her  from  Florence,  six 
months  after,  to  hand  the  Institoot  over  to  one  of  Dragger's  mem 
bers,  who  was  spiritooally-mmded.  And  she  is  ruunin'  the  Insti 
toot  this  minnit. 

"  Married  ?  I  should  rather  think  so  !  Got  married  in  Sep 
tember,  and  went  to  Kentucky  for  a  weddin'  tower.  And  they  are 
jest  as  big  fools  over  one  another  to-day  as  they  was  in  the  honey 
moon. 

"  But,  Jerusalem  !  I  mean  Sackery  blew  !  that  ain't  the  wust 


AND  LAST.  245 

of  it !  They  live  to  my  heouse,  of  course.  Fd  a  sot  it  afire  with 
out  insurance  if  they  hadn't  come,  and  they  knowed  it.  And  the 
Boy  was  born  there  !  And  he  lives  all  over  the  heouse,  and  he 
owns  everybody  in  it,  and  if  he  should  take  a  notion  to  howl  for 
the  moon,  cuss  my  buttons  if  Dassy  wouldn't  git  it  for  him  ! 

"His  name?     Ho!   ho!    Timothy  Skillet  Gaston !    Sackery 
blew  I» 


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